Buccinator myomucosal flap for the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency in patients with cleft palate and/or lip / Buccinator myomucosal flap for the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency in patients with cleft palate and/or lip

Abstract Introduction: The interpretation of the speech results obtained with the buccinator myomucosal flap in the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency in patients with cleft palate has been limited by the restriction in the number of patients and the time of postoperative follow-up. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the buccinator myomucosal flap on speech hypernasality in the treatment of patients with cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Methods: Patients with repaired cleft palate (± lip) who were submitted to surgical correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency using the bilateral buccinator myomucosal flap were assessed. Hypernasality (scores 0 [absent], 1 [mild], 2 [moderate], or 3 [severe]) was analyzed by three evaluators by measuring the audiovisual records collected in early and late preoperative and postoperative periods (3 and 12 months, respectively). The values were considered significant for a 95% Confidence Interval (p < 0.05). Results: Thirty-seven patients with cleft palate (± lip) showing moderate (16.2%) or severe (83.8%) hypernasality in the preoperative period were included. Analyses of the late postoperative period showed that hypernasality (0.5 ± 0.7) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the hypernasality of the preoperative and recent postoperative periods (2.8 ± 0.4 and 1.7 ± 0.9, respectively). Conclusion: The buccinator myomucosal flap is effective in reducing/eliminating hypernasality in patients with cleft palate (± lip) and velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Resumo: Introdução: A interpretação dos resultados de fala obtidos com o retalho miomucoso do músculo bucinador no tratamento da insuficiência velofaríngea em pacientes fissurados tem sido limitada pela restrição do número de pacientes e do tempo de seguimento pós-operatório. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do retalho miomucoso do músculo bucinador sobre a hipernasalidade da fala no tratamento de pacientes fissurados com insuficiência velofaríngea. Método: Foram avaliados pacientes com fissura palatina (± lábio) reparada, com retalho miomucoso do músculo bucinador bilateral para a correção cirúrgica da insuficiência velofaríngea. A hipernasalidade (escores 0 [ausente], 1 [leve], 2 [moderada] ou 3 [severa]) foi analisada por três avaliadores por meio da mensuração dos registros audiovisuais coletados nos períodos pré-operatório e pós-operatórios recente e tardio (3 e 12 meses, respectivamente). Os valores foram considerados significativos para um intervalo de confiança de 95% (p < 0,05). Resultado: Foram incluídos 37 pacientes fissurados com hipernasalidade moderada (16,2%) ou severa (83,8%) no período pré-operatório. As análises do período pós-operatório tardio revelaram que a hipernasalidade (0,5 ± 0,7) foi significativamente (p < 0,05) menor do que a hipernasalidade dos períodos pré-operatório e pós-operatório recente (2,8 ± 0,4 e 1,7 ± 0,9; respectivamente). Conclusão: O retalho miomucoso do músculo bucinador é eficaz na redução/eliminação da hipernasalidade nos pacientes fissurados com insuficiência velofaríngea.

Use of Double Buccinator Myomucosal Flap for Treating Secondary Velopharyngeal Insufficiency: a Case Report

Buccinator Myomucosal Flap for Wide Cleft Palate

PURPOSE: The goal of palatoplasty is focused on two points. One is to close the palatal defect completely, and the other to create a velopharyngeal system for normal speech. While established methods such as pushback palatoplasty or double opposing Z palatoplasty are used in wide cleft palate repair, sequelae such as maxillary hypoplasia or oronasal fistula may result. Therefore, when palatoplasty with buccinator myomucosal flap is used in the case of wide cleft palates, maxillary hypoplasia and oronasal fistula is reduced and optimal results are obtained. METHODS: From October 2005 to December 2006, four children with wide complete cleft palate underwent unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap and intravelar veloplaty. Mean age at cleft repair was 15 months, and mean cleft size was 2.15cm. The patients underwent intravelar veloplasty and palatoplasty was done using unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap. RESULTS: The patients, after mean 10 months of follow- up observation, showed no signs of oronasal fistula resulting from flap tension. The shape and color similar to normal oral mucosa was obtained, and velopharyngeal function was acquired. CONCLUSION: When intravelar veloplasty and palatoplasty with unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap is done on wide cleft palates, postoperative speech function is optimal, velopharyngeal incompetence is effectively corrected, and sequelae resulting from pushback palatoplasty and double opposing Z-plasty, such as maxillary hypoplasia and oronasal fistula, is reduced.

Intraoral Reconstruction with Buccinator Myomucosal Flap

Since the buccinator myomucosal flap was first described, it has been modified, with the study of anatomical model. Therefore, buccinator myomucosal flap can be elevated in various direction according to defect with its sufficient arc of rotation. With the buccinator myomucosal flap, intraoral reconstruction was performed in 3 patients. Two adult patients were suffered from complete cleft palete. Partial tongue reconstruction was performed in another patient following partial glossectomy due to tongue cancer. Satisfied results were obtained in all three patients. In these cases, the author designed flaps in island patterns. It would be more helpful to close donor site primarily and obtaining free rotation arc. The pedicle was located in retromolar trigone, flap detachment was not needed. Considering the disadvantages of other reconstruction methods, such as contracture, hair growth and poor oral hygiene caused by skin graft or conventional free flap, the buccinator myomucosal flap would be another good option for intraoral reconstruction with "like tissue".

Usefulness of Buccinator Myomucosal Flap for Intraoral Reconstruction / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND: The myomucosal flap from the buccinator muscle is known to be useful for the reconstruction of intraoral defects. We used the buccinator myomucosal flap for the treatment of mild to moderate defects after intraoral tumor resection. This paper represents the versatility of the buccinator myomucosal flap for intraoral reconstruction and to introduce our clinical experience. METHODS: The flap was applied clinically in 5 patients to reconstruct intraoral defects from January, 1999 to December, 1999, with an average follow-up of 6 months. We evaluated these patients retrospectively. RESULTS: The buccinator myomucosal flap was used in the reconstruction of 5 defects of soft palate, retromolar trigone, and posterior pharyngeal wall. All flaps survived completely. There was no flap necrosis and fistula. The results were functionally and esthetically satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The buccinator myomucosal flap was used for mild to moderate intraoral defect reconstruction. It has many advantages and versatilities. It is reliable and safe. It does not require microsurgical technique, and rapid healing can be achieved due to its mucosal nature. The buccinator myomucosal flap, the only myomucosal flap that can be used for intraoral reconstruction, can be widely used.

Versatile Use of Buccinator Myomucosal Flap for Oral Cavity and Orbital Reconstruction

This paper represents the versatility of buccinator myomucosal flap for intraoral and orbital reconstruction of mild to moderate defect and we introduce recontructive methods are introduced along with our clinical experience. Buccal artery from internal maxillary artery is the main arterial pedicle, and buccal branch from facial artery also can supply blood for the buccinator muscle. The abundant blood flow from interconnected pedicles supports the reliable circulation of the buccal mucosa. So we could reconstruct the eye socket using reversed island buccinator myomucosal flap based on the angular vessel. The motor innervation of the buccinator muscle comes from the facial nerve. The buccinator muscle is considered to be a part of the sphincteric muscular system involving the functions of sucking, whistling, propelling food during mastication and voiding the buccal cavity. From 1990 to 1999, the flap was utilized in 8 patients to reconstruct the small to moderate intraoral defect and 1 patient for orbital mucosal defect. All flaps survived completely. There has been no flap necrosis and fistula. The results have been functionally and esthetically satisfactory. It is very reliable and safe flap with a minimal morbidity of donor site. It doesn't require microsurgical technique. Rapid healing may be achieved with its mucosal nature. We conclude that buccinator myomucosal flap can be widely used with a lot of advantages for intraoral and orbital defect because of its many advantages.