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. 2018 Dec;16(6):5315-5317.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.6869. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Successful management of an orocutaneous fistula and exposed mandibular plate with the vacuum-assisted closure system: A case report

Hiroyuki Goda  1 , Tomohiro Hamakawa  1 , Koh-Ichi Nakashiro  1
Affiliations

Successful management of an orocutaneous fistula and exposed mandibular plate with the vacuum-assisted closure system: A case report

Hiroyuki Goda et al. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Orocutaneous fistulas are one of the most problematic postoperative complications after oral cancer surgery. Notably, in patients with mandibular plate exposure it is necessary to remove the plate. However, it takes longer for these patients to achieve complete fistula closure. The present report described an 84-year-old man with a postoperative orocutaneous fistula and exposed mandibular plate who was treated with the vacuum-assisted closure system. This system protects the wound from contamination while the negative pressure prevents tissue fluid retention, promotes blood flow, facilitates granulation tissue formation and decreases the bacterial cell count. Vacuum-assisted closure was successful in the present case, and complete fistula closure took 20 days. Additionally, there was no evidence of recurrence over the 11-month follow-up.

Keywords: mandibular plate exposure; orocutaneous fistula; vacuum-assisted closure.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Orocutaneous fistula with mandibular plate exposure.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Following debridement, the vacuum-assisted closure system was applied to the orocutaneous fistula.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The surface of the skin after the orocutaneous fistula was successfully closed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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