Combined palatal and buccal flaps in oroantral fistula repair

ObjectiveTo review our 7-year clinical experience with the combined palatal–buccal flaps for delayed repair of oroantral fistula (OAF) and to highlight its advantages, disadvantages, and complications.Study designThe records of 18 patients with late OAF treated by combined palatal–buccal flaps from 2004 to 2010 were reviewed. Data recorded were patient age and sex, cause of fistula, signs and symptoms, interval from appearance of fistula to repair, fistula size, radiographic appearance, method of repair, and immediate and late complications.ResultsThe study included 18 patients with a mean age of 35.5 years. All included patients had a defect size range from 0.3 to 1.3 cm, 16 patients following extraction of the 1st molar and only 2 defects after extraction of the 2nd premolar. Duration till fistula development ranged from 1 month to 7 months. We had only 2 failure cases after using our technique which necessitated 2nd intervention.ConclusionThe use of combined palatal–buccal flap technique is a simple, convenient, and reliable method for the late repair of small to medium-sized OAF.