Introduction: an oro-antral communication is defined as a permanent pathological connection between the maxillary sinus and the septic oral cavity. Several flaps can be used for the closure (buccal flap, palatal flap, combination techniques) but relapses occur often in case of a large defects and underlying general conditions. Bichat fad pad flap is a multipotent pedicled fatty tissue that is easily accessible from the oral cavity that can be used for the closure of medium-sized defects, even in immunocompromised patients due to its stem cell capacity.
Materials and methods: the medical information of the patients diagnosed with oro-antral communications who were admitted and treated in the Oral and Maxillo-Facial Clinic Targu Mures, between 2013 and 2020 were analyzed. A database containing general information, reported causes, associated diseases, surgical methods used during admission, and relapses, was created. The information was statistically processed. The written consent and ethical approval were obtained.
Results: the study shows that from a total of 140 cases, 72 were treated using buccal advancement flap, 49 using Bichat fat pad flap, and 19 using palatal flaps. The dimensions of the communications ranged between 0.3 cm and 1.5 cm. Several statistically significant results could be found when comparing the surgical methods. Of the 72 patients treated with buccal advancement flaps, 25 presented relapses as opposed to the patients treated with Bichat fat pad flaps who showed no complications, p < 0.05. Analysing this aspect further, all large defects (10 cases) ranging from 0.6 cm to 1.5 cm treated with advancement buccal flaps (Rehrmann flaps) showed relapses (p < 0.05). Considering the general conditions, out of 7 patients who received radiotherapy 4 presented relapses, as opposed to the healthy patients, p < 0.05. Regarding the reintervention for the relapsed cases, the majority of the cases treated a second time with buccal advancement flap (5 out of 7 cases) failed as opposed to the Bichat fat pad flap with no further relapses (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: the most frequently used surgical treatment is the buccal flap, which also has the highest relapse rate. Both primary treatment with Bichat fat-pad flap and re-treatment of relapses using this flap have had 100% success rates, even in patients with general associated conditions, in contrast with patients treated by using the buccal flap. The dimensions of the oro-antral communication and general conditions are crucial factors for the success of the surgical treatment.
Keywords: Bichat fat pad flap; buccal flap; communication; general conditions; relapse.