Le Fort I Osteotomy and the Use of Bilateral Bichat Bulla Adipose Flap: An Effective New Technique for Reconstructing Oronasal Communications Due to Cocaine Abuse

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe a new and effective method for reconstructing small- and medium-sized oronasal communications in cases of deficient blood supply of oronasal mucosa.

A male patient, aged 45, was presented with a hard palate defect due to chronic cocaine inhalation. The defect was corrected using bilateral Bichat bulla adipose flap and a Le Fort I osteotomy. The surgical technique was described, together with its advantages.

Surgery lasted 2 hours. The reconstructive technique had been easy to execute. Six months after the surgery, the defect has been corrected without complications.

Le Fort I osteotomy and the use of a bilateral Bichat bulla adipose flap is an effective technique to correct small- and medium-sized palatal defects not solvable with simple oral mucosa flaps. The technique is easy to execute and it showed a high efficacy with minimal impact on the patient's esthetic appearance.