Abstract
We have introduced a new technique for reconstruction of oral mucosa, naming it reversed dermis graft (RDG). In RDG the depithelialized skin is turned inside out and transplantated into the recipient bed. The surrounding mucosal epithelium gradually covers the graft while the transplanted tissue inhibits wound contracture.
Mucosal defects in the oral cavity in 16 cases were repaired with RDG. Clinical observation was carried out to evaluate this method.
1) In this series of cases, all oral cavity mucosal areas were reconstructed with RDG except for palatal mucosa. The maximum graft size was 9×5cm.
2) All grafts were reepitheliarized with the surrounding mucosal epithelium within about 5 weeks. Hair growth, keratinization and formation of dermal cyst were not seen in the reconstructed area.
3) The grafts contracted in all cases and were about 55% of their original size.
So, compared with the usual method, RDG has many advantages. In this report the biological background of RDG and operation technique were described.
