Efficacy of covering mucosal defects with polyglycolic acid sheets after ear or nose surgery.

INTRODUCTION Surgery of the ear and nose often involves drilling, resulting in exposure of the bone surfaces. Fibrin is usually used to cover the exposed bone surfaces; however, this approach may result in granulation, infection, stenosis, and adhesion. Several other methods are available for covering the exposed bone surfaces. For example, implantation of skinand fascia-free grafts (nonpedicled grafts) and pedicled mucosal flaps have been attempted and found to be very useful; however, these approaches involve a complicated and invasive technique. In this study, we report the use of polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets (Neoveil; Gunze, Kyoto, Japan) and fibrin glue to stimulate early re-epithelization at the exposed bone surface after ear or nose surgery.