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

Authors Bello SA

Received 24 February 2012

Accepted for publication 27 March 2012

Published 1 June 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 17—20

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CCIDE.S31190

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



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.

Keywords: Gillies fan flap, reconstruction, upper lip, noma

 

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