A 32-year-old man came to our hospital seeking treatment for his extreme inability to open his mouth normally. Preoperatively, his mouth opening was just 11 mm. He gave a history of cigarette smoking and pan chewing for 2 decades. He was diagnosed with Oral submucous fibrosis, a condition characterized by thickening of the mucosal tissues and progressive rigidity of the jaws making it exceedingly difficult to open the mouth. Previously he underwent laser surgery elsewhere, 3 times, for this ailment but it did not work.
In the surgical treatment procedure, Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. S.M. Balaji placed transverse incisions on the cheek on both right & left side to release the fibrous bands and to immediately improve the mouth opening. An inferiorly based Nasolabial island flap based on the facial artery was raised and transposed intraorally through a small trans-buccal tunnel. This was sutured with the buccal mucosal defect. Extraorally, the defect was closed in layers. Immediately following surgery, a normal mouth opening of 35 mm was achieved.
In the surgical treatment procedure, Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. S.M. Balaji placed transverse incisions on the cheek on both right & left side to release the fibrous bands and to immediately improve the mouth opening. An inferiorly based Nasolabial island flap based on the facial artery was raised and transposed intraorally through a small trans-buccal tunnel. This was sutured with the buccal mucosal defect. Extraorally, the defect was closed in layers. Immediately following surgery, a normal mouth opening of 35 mm was achieved.
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