Clinical Experience of Morel-Lavallee Syndrome

91 Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is often a consequence of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis of the oral cavity may occasionally result from a hematogenous spread of mycobacteria [1]. However, in the described patient, tuberculosis was not detected at any other body site. Although the larynx is commonly involved in upper respiratory tract tuberculosis, the anterior pillar of the fauces and the adjoining soft palate are the most common sites of oral tuberculosis [4]. Deposits usually take place in the form of discrete nodules with yellowish apple jelly-like centers. These nodules may ulcerate leaving radiating scars, which are reasonably characteristic. However, no such gross pathology was observed in our case. The soft palate is a dynamic muscular structure that effectively separates the oral and nasal cavities. Soft palate defects may cause hypernasal speech and food reflux into the nose upon swallowing. Thus, a functional mucomuscular soft palate structure and the removal of oronasal obstruction are the goals of palate reconstruction. In our case, the oronasal fistula was reconstructed using a posterior pharyngeal flap, and after surgery, the patient’s hypernasality scores improved. Furthermore, no complication was encountered, and neither the tuberculosis nor the oronasal fistula recurred. In conclusion, we used a posterior pharyngeal flap to reconstruct a rare soft palate defect that occurred after the tuberculosis of the soft palate, and achieved excellent functional outcomes.