The turbinate flap for oronasal fistula closure.

Extensive scarring may limit available local tissue for closure of the nasal epithelial lining in oronasal fistulae, as frequently seen in cleft patients. A pedicled mucoperiosteal flap harvested from the inferior turbinate can be a valuable alternative to close such defects. Due to dense vascularity of the conchal mucosa, an inferior turbinate flap with an average size of 9.9 cm may be harvested. This is illustrated in a case of a large nasovestibular fistula in a patient after premaxillary osteoplasty and anatomic studies.