Surgical treatment of buccofacial region vascular anomalies using an intraoral buccomucosal flap procedure

Objective: To report our experience in and our surgical technique of treating vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region using an intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. Design: Retrospective medical record review and illustration of a specific surgical procedure. Setting: Academic tertiary care center. Patients: Thirty-two patients with vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region who have been treated using the intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. Intervention: Surgical therapy using an intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. Main Outcome Measures: Surgical outcomes and complications. Results: Thirty-two patients were treated using the intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. The vascular anomalies treated at this site were venous malformations (17[53.1%]), lymphatic malformations (13 [40.6%]), and hemangiomas (2 [6.3%]). Surgical removal was accomplished without occurrence of facial nerve dysfunction or other morbidity.The most frequent postoperative problem encountered was scarring with lymphatic malformation treatment. Conclusion: The intraoral buccomucosal flap procedure is an effective surgical technique for treating vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region.