Clinical evaluation of the buccal fat pad vs nasolabial flap as an interposition graft material in oral submucous fibrosis patients

Abstract

AIM: Aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy and compare the surgical outcome of buccal fat pad and nasolabial flap in increasing postoperative mouth opening in reconstruction of the defect created after excision of fibrous bands in surgically treated cases of OSMF. Materials and Methods: this study included 10 patients who came in our department at karnavati school of dentistry between the years 2017 and 2020, out of which 5 patients underwent closure of surgical defect using buccal fat pad (Group I) and 5 patients underwent closure of surgical defect using nasolabial flap (Group II). Clinically proven cases of OSMF with mouth opening no more than 20 mm were included in this study. Mouth opening of patients were documented preoperatively, intraoperatively and at 6 months of follow up. Results were tabulated and were analysed by paired t test. Results: in group I and II, there was substantial difference in mouth opening at all periods of follow-up. At 1 month follow-up, mean mouth opening was 29.4 mm in group 2 compared with 28.25 mm in group I.