Novel use of tissue expander for dilation of oropharyngeal stenosis

Oropharyngeal Stenosis Caused by Significant Scar Hyperplasia Following Tonsillectomy: A Case Report

Oropharyngeal stenosis (OPS) is a relatively rare long-term complication of tonsillectomy in children, resulting from the narrowing of the upper aerodigestive tract between the soft palate, pharyngeal sidewalls, and base of the tongue. This is the first reported case of OPS due to significant scar hyperplasia; however, whether it is as prone to recurrence as skin scar hypertrophy remains unknown. In this article, we present the case of a 5-year-old girl who presented to our otolaryngology clinic with sleep snoring and suffocation. Her medical history included tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, performed 3 years prior to presentation. The patient underwent a combination of surgery and administration of triamcinolone injections, resulting in significant symptomatic improvement. To date, no signs of recurrence have been reported.

Repair of Oropharyngeal Stenosis With Bilateral Buccal Myomucosal Flaps

Oropharyngeal stenosis (OPS) is a rare postoperative complication of adenotonsillectomy that can be a source of considerable patient distress and morbidity. Circumferential scarring of the soft palate and tonsillar pillars leads to narrowing of the oropharyngeal aperture. This case report describes the novel use of bilateral buccal myomucosal flaps for the repair of postoperative OPS in a 20-year-old woman presenting with dysphagia, odynophagia, dyspnea, and intermittent hypernasal speech. Postoperatively, the patient noted immediate improvement of her symptoms. At 1-month follow-up, she noted complete resolution of her symptoms with no dysphagia, nasal regurgitation, speaking difficulty, dyspnea, or gagging. The buccal flaps were well healed and completely intact, maintaining appropriate height of the tonsillar pillars. The buccal myomucosal flap is an effective tool for numerous palatal and oropharyngeal abnormalities and, as described in this case study, is a reliable, safe, and effective technique that can be considered for the reconstruction of postsurgical OPS.