Use of the buccal fat pad in the immediate reconstruction of palatal defects related to cancer surgery with postoperative radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of the buccal fat pad (BFP) in the immediate reconstruction of oncologic palate defects and the influence of postoperative radiotherapy on reconstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with moderate- to high-grade malignancies of the palate underwent partial maxillectomy. The BFP was used as a pedicled flap to reconstruct the defects. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy 4 to 5 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS: Eighteen patients (9 men and 9 women; age range, 37 to 81 yr) underwent surgery and subsequent radiotherapy. The size of all defects ranged from 7.5 to 19.2 cm2. Adequate closure of the defects was achieved during surgery and all flaps were epithelialized within 3 weeks after surgery, with no complications of dehiscence or flap failure. Furthermore, there were no complications derived from postoperative radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that BFP grafting is an effective and reliable method for the reconstruction of small to medium-size palate defects. Furthermore, postoperative radiotherapy does not influence the success of reconstruction.