Prosthetic management of palatal perforation in heroin abuse patient

Heroin induced palatal perforation is a very infrequent complication. The authors report in this study a patient who suffered palatal perforation as a result of long time of snorting Heroin. He presented complaining of liquid passage from the oral cavity into the nasal cavities and hypernasality during speech. An immediate transparent acrylic partial obturator was constructed and fitted. It was successful in sealing the defect. However after 4 months an enlargement in the perforation was evident due to failure to cease the habit from the patient. It required the fabrication of new palatal obturator to seal the enlarged perforation and enhance the speech. This report discusses the possible lines of treatment of such complication. The report pointed out the possible prosthetic options. It also, emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in management of drug abuse patients and complications encountered in their treatment. The use of palatal obturators improves patient quality of life, avoiding socially embarrassing situations such as the passage of fluids and solids into the nasal passages and maxillary sinuses, or a nasal tone. Correspondence to: Hussein El Charkawi, 2 D Road 199 Degla, Maadi, 11347, Cairo, Egypt, Tel: 01222150439; E-mail: [email protected]