Surgical Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis by Comparing Two Flaps: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic disease which is slow and progressive in nature and results in reduced mouth opening. A lot of treatments options such as physiotherapy, medicinal management and surgical therapy have been used with varying amount of success, but not any of them have been found to be a definitive management option. Objective: To compare the efficacy of buccal fat pad against extended nasiolabial flap in the surgical correction of oral submucous fibrosis. Settings and Design: This comparative study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan during 2013-2016. Methodology: Patients with a total of 12 (8 male and 4 female) having age ranging from 17 to 50 years and fulfilling the criteria were included in study. Out of 12, six patients were alloted to each group namely group 1 and group 2. In group 1 patients, the defect was reconstructed by buccal fat pad and in group 2 patients; the defect was reconstructed by extended nasolabial flaps. Statistical Analysis Used Paired t test, Independent sample t test. Results: The mean mouth opening preoperatively in group 1 was 7.67 mm and in group 2 was 7.83 mm. The mean mouth opening in group 1 was 29.83 mm and in group 2 was 34.67 mm after one year postoperatively. Conclusions: In this study, extended nasolabial flap is slightly better than buccal fat pad in terms of mouth opening. However buccal fat pad is esthetically more acceptable than extended nasolabial flap.