Gillies fan flap for the reconstruction of an upper lip defect caused by noma: case presentation

fan flap for the reconstruction of an upper lip defect caused by noma: case presentation Case report (1851) Total Article Views Authors: Bello SA Published Date June 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 17 - 20 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CCIDE.S31190 Received: 24 February 2012 Accepted: 27 March 2012 Published: 01 June 2012 Seidu Adebayo Bello Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, State House Medical Center, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria Abstract: The case of a 65-year-old noma patient with a defect involving her upper lip is presented. The defect also included missing teeth numbers eleven, twelve, 21, and 22 and the adjoining alveolus. One-stage lip reconstruction was carried out with Gillies fan flap followed by vestibuloplasty and commissuroplasty. An acrylic partial denture was subsequently fabricated to replace the missing teeth and thereby restore function. Even though the incidence of cancrum oris has reduced worldwide, cases are still being reported in Africa and can leave behind a significant facial defect. Whereas most cases of lip defects reported from the Western world are due to cancer, cancrum oris could be the cause of lip defects in sub-Saharan Africa. Gillies fan flap could be employed for the reconstruction of a relatively large defect of the lip and the disadvantage of microstomia could be minimized for the restoration of articulation, speech, and masticatory functions of the lip.