Buccal Fat Pad: Report of 24 Cases and Literature Review of 1,635 Cases of Oral Defect Reconstruction

Abstract

Objective: The buccal fat pad (BFP) has been progressively introduced into clinical practice for oral defect reconstruction. This study describes our experience with this technique and compares indications in the literature and outcomes. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 24 patients presenting oral surgical defects and treated between January 2012 and January 2015 at our institution. They all were eligible for BFP defect reconstruction. A comprehensive literature review was performed from 1977 onwards and surgical indications and results were compared. Results: All 24 BFP procedures showed excellent recovery and uneventful follow-up. Literature review confirmed a global success rate of 96.2% for a reported number of 1,635 patients with multiple surgical indications. BFP showed very low morbidity and failure rates in accordance with the outcomes reported in the literature, and the high patient compliance together with the easy harvesting of this surgical technique make it a good reconstructive option in cases of small-to-medium size oral defects in patients with a high rate of comorbidities or as salvage/second option. Conclusion: The BFP is worthy of consideration for the reconstruction of selected mouth defects, due to its easy mobilization, excellent blood supply, and minimal donor-site morbidity, where shape and size represent its main limitations, and a defect’s location influences its pliability.

Subclavicular flap: A valid reconstructive option among anterior chest flaps in oral cancer patients

“…On the other hand, disadvantages might be represented by the difficulty in performing simultaneous ablation and flap harvesting, even if in our experience, sequencing the ablation and reconstruction did not significantly increase operative times. Another possible disadvantage is that in comparison to local oral flaps such as the buccal fat pad, or other intra‐oral flaps, the subclavicular flap creates a continuity between the oral cavity and the neck, which has not increased complications’ incidence or operative time in our practice anyway. In addition, local flaps would be an ideal reconstructive option only in case of small‐medium size defects …”

The (in)adequacy of translational research in dentistry

“…Fifth, conducting invasive procedures mainly for aesthetic reasons, may limit the possibilities for treatment of other conditions. For example, prior removal of the buccal fat pad for aesthetic purposes may result in limitations of treatments for other dental/facial conditions that could benefit from the use of the fat pad that is now unavailable ().…”

Lipectomia bucal: relato de complicação cirúrgica mediata

“…O CAB é encontrado no espaço bucal ligado medialmente pelo músculo bucinador, antero-lateralmente pelos músculos da mimica facial e posteriormente pela glândula parótida (Cohen, Fireman, Hewett, & Saad, 2017). O CAB atua no movimento intermuscular e na proteção dos feixes neurovasculares, circundando-os, também devolve volume, contorno e harmonia a face sendo bastante utilizado como enxerto autógeno para correção de deformidades faciais (Mannelli, Arcuri, Comini, Valente, & Spinelli, 2019).…”

“…As técnicas cirúrgicas relacionadas ao CAB são referidas na literatura com uma alta taxa de sucesso, cerca de 96%. O sucesso do procedimento pode estar associado ao excelente suprimento sanguíneo da região, fácil mobilização e morbidade mínima (Mannelli et al 2019). A taxa de complicação do procedimento é de 8,45%, sendo mais frequentes os edemas, hematomas, infecções e lesão dos vasos faciais (Klüppel, Marcos, Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 10, e4949108921, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8921 4 Shimizu, Silva, & Silva, 2018); Moura, Spin, Spin-Neto, & Pereira-Filho, 2018).…”