Cocaine-related syndrome and palatal reconstruction: report of a series of cases

Intranasal cocaine abuse may cause significant local ischaemic necrosis and destruction of the nasal and midfacial bones and soft tissue, leading to development of a cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion. Review of the English-language literature reveals only a few case reports describing hard and/or soft palatal perforation related to cocaine inhalation. To date, among the reconstructive techniques of the palate, different surgical options have been reported such as local, regional and free flaps. Common prosthetic obturators have also been used. Presented here are six cases of cocaine abuse showing different types of cocaine-related palatal lesions treated with different surgical approaches including local and free flaps. Mean follow-up was 3 years. A surgical variation of Marshall's classic technique for insetting a free flap in such lesions is proposed.