Repair of cocaine-related oronasal fistula with forearm radial free flap. 2013

Giacomo Colletti, and Fabiana Allevi, and Davide Valassina, and Dario Bertossi, and Federico Biglioli
From the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

BACKGROUND Cocaine snorting may cause significant local ischemic necrosis and the destruction of nasal and midfacial bones and soft tissues, leading to the development of a syndrome called cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion. A review of the English-language literature reveals only a few articles describing the treatment of hard and/or soft palatal perforation related to cocaine inhalation. Described here are 4 patients with a history of cocaine abuse showing palatal lesions. METHODS From 2010 to 2013, a total of 4 patients affected by cocaine-related midline destructive lesions were referred to our department. They all presented signs of a cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion. They showed wide midfacial destruction involving the nasal septum as well as the hard and soft palates causing an ample oronasal communication. RESULTS In 3 patients, oronasal communication has been treated successfully using a personal technique based on a partially de-epithelialized forearm free flap. The fourth patient had been treated only with local debridement because, when she came to our attention, her abusive habits were still unsolved. CONCLUSIONS Different surgical options have been reported such as local, regional, and free flaps for hard and soft palate reconstruction. However, because of an unpredictable vascularization of the palatal tissues and owing to the scarceness of the local soft tissues, local flaps are at high risk for partial and complete failure. The transfer of free vascularized tissue, however, seems to be the most reliable and logical solution for medium- to large-sized fistulas. Among the various free flaps, we choose the radial forearm type because of the pedicle length and the flap thickness.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009668 Nose Diseases Disorders of the nose, general or unspecified. Nasal Diseases,Nasal Disorders,Disease, Nasal,Disease, Nose,Diseases, Nasal,Diseases, Nose,Disorder, Nasal,Disorders, Nasal,Nasal Disease,Nasal Disorder,Nose Disease
D003042 Cocaine An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake. Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D005260 Female Females
D005542 Forearm Part of the upper extremity in humans and primates extending from the ELBOW to the WRIST. Antebrachium,Antebrachiums,Forearms
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014057 Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image. CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography
D016155 Oral Fistula An abnormal passage within the mouth communicating between two or more anatomical structures. Fistula, Oral,Fistulas, Oral,Oral Fistulas
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

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