Lateral palatal sliding flap for closure of post traumatic oronasal fistula

Gunshot wounds to the maxillofacial region, ablative removal of tumors and surgical repair procedures of cleft palate patients and maxillofacial trauma, may result in residual abnormalities of the palatal region that can be difficult to restore. The palatal bone is rather thin and receives only weak skeletal support from the adjacent bone, which increases the likelihood of complications following surgery, such as the creation of fistulae. The lateral palatal sliding flap is an effective technique for closure of oroantral and oronasal fistulas. Although the etiology and management of palatal fistula are varied, there are very few articles which have reported oronasal fistula as a sequel to trauma. Here we have described one such case which was treated successfully with lateral palatal sliding flap technique.