The submucosal island flap in the closure of oro-antral fistula.

A submucosal island palatal flap technique was used successfully in seven patients for closure of large oro-antral fistulae. The technique provides not only an island flap of submucosal connective tissue to close the fistula, but a flap of mucosa to cover the raw area of palatal bone. The advantages of the technique are that healing is satisfactory without denuded bone, the island flap has excellent mobility and does not produce bunching of the mucosa of the hard palate and recipient site, and dentures may be fitted early following the excellent healing of the wound.