Three Dimensional Changes in Pharyngeal Airway after Orthognathic Surgery

  • Dr PhD Gülnaz Marsan, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Dr PhD MSerkal Arman, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Prof Dr PhD Nil Cura, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Prof Dr MD Ufuk Emekli, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Faculty of Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Prof Dr PhD Nedim Özer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okmeydani Dental Hospital, Turkey
  • Assoc Prof Dr MD Çaglar Çuhadaroglu, Department of Thoracic Diseases, Medical Faculty of Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Dr MD Ege Terzibasi, Department of Thoracic Diseases, Medical Faculty of Istanbul University, Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in pharyngeal airways and sleeping patterns after surgery with using two different surgical methods in patients with skeletal Class III deformity.
Subjects and Methods: Mandibular setback was performed in 11 (group I) and maxilllary advancement and mandibular setback were performed in 14 (group II) of 25 cases with skeletal Class III deformity. Lateral cephalograms, 3D computerized tomograms and polisomniograms taken preoperatively (T1) and six months postoperatively (T2) were investigated.
Results: In six months postoperative (T1) period, the total pharyngeal airway volume was significantly decreased (p: 0.003) in group I, while no significant difference was observed in group 2 cases. In retropalatinal pharyngeal airway area, a significant narrowing was observed in AP (p: 0.014) and LAT (p: 0.014) dimensions in group I, while significant amount of increases were observed (for AP and LAT, p: 0.001) in group 2. Significant decreases were observed in retrolingual pharyngeal area dimensions both in group I (AP, p: 0.007, LAT, p: 0.008) and group 2 (AP, p: 0.004, LAT, p: 0.027). The results of polisomniographic sleep pattern study showed that, no significant changes in sleeping pattern were observed in both two groups.
Conclusion: The narrowing of retrolingual airway area had no effect on sleeping pattern six months after orthognathic surgery.