Lip-Nose Reconstruction Post-Cancrum Oris Defect: A Case Report

Abstract

Cancrumoris is a disease of great antiquity described by Hippocrates and Galen. The termnoma, a common
synonym for the disease, is derived from the Greek verb ‘to devour’.Tourdes(1948) definedcancrumoris that
is still substantially correct. Hedescribed the condition as a gangrenous affection of the mouth that especially
attacks children in whom the constitution is altered by bad hygiene and serious illnesses such asexanthematous
fevers. According to him, the disease is manifested by an ulcer of the oralmucous membrane, edema of the
face extending from within out, and rapid destruction of the soft tissues and bone with an outcome that is
almost always fatal. Nowadays, cancrumoris still affects children predominantly. It occurs very rarely in the
aged with decreased hostresistance. Noma sequelae comprise bony and soft-tissue losses that affect both
aesthetics and function. Complex defects should be treated in a staged fashion with the most complex initial
stages performed in better-equipped institutions and less complex stages done on home ground. Although
complete correction may be planned to restore function and aesthetics, thenoma patient may eventually be
satisfied with a functional but less aesthetic outcome.