Abstract
The Facial Artery Myo Mucosal Flap (FAMM flap) is a well vascularized pedicled flap that can be used to close complicated fistulae, such as recurrent fistulae or large and/or very scarred palatal defects. It is considered an axial flap based on the facial artery and contains buccal mucosa, submucosa, buccinator muscle, the facial artery, and venous plexus. It can be used as a superiorly/anteriorly based pedicle flap with retrograde flow, mainly for anterior palatal defects, or as an inferiorly/posteriorly based flap with orthograde flow, mostly for more posterior palatal defects or when intact dentition is present. Dissection of the pedicle can be necessary for creating a proper gingival-labial fold, or to release bulky tissue hampering occlusion. Because of the sinuous and stretchy course of the facial artery, the FAMM flap is a multipurpose and very usable flap. Limitations include possible bulky tissue and the necessity of bite blocks due to the sometimes deeper location of the artery, and the lack of keratinized tissue around teeth in anteriorly based flaps.
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Nolte, J.W., Breugem, C.C. (2022). FAMM-Flap: The Facial Artery Myo Mucosal Flap in Palatal Fistulae Reconstruction. In: Fayyaz, G.Q. (eds) Surgical Atlas of Cleft Palate and Palatal Fistulae. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3889-6_126-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3889-6_126-1
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