The Turbinate Flap for Oronasal Fistula Closure

In Brief Extensive scarring may limit available local tissue for closure of the nasal epithelial lining in oronasal fistulae, as frequently seen in cleft patients. A pedicled mucoperiosteal flap harvested from the inferior turbinate can be a valuable alternative to close such defects. Due to dense vascularity of the conchal mucosa, an inferior turbinate flap with an average size of 9.9 cm2 may be harvested. This is illustrated in a case of a large nasovestibular fistula in a patient after premaxillary osteoplasty and anatomic studies. An anatomic study and clinical case demonstrated the feasibility of oronasal fistula reconstruction by the use of mucoperiosteal flaps up to 9.9 cm2 taken from the inferior turbinate.