A study of upper airway dimensional change according to maxillary superior movement after orthognathic surgery / 대한치과교정학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the upper airway dimensional change according to maxillary superior movement after orthognathic surgery and to identify the relationship between the amount of maxillary movement and upper airway dimensional changes. METHODS: The samples consisted of 24 adult patients (9 males and 15 females) who had a skeletal discrepancy and had received presurgical orthodontic treatment. They underwent Le Fort I superior impaction osteotomy and mandibular setback surgery. Cephalometric x-rays were taken at 3 stages - T0 (before orthognathic surgery), T1 (just or within 2 weeks after orthognathic surgery), T2 (6 months after surgery) RESULTS: 1, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (R)-nasopharynx) was decreased after surgery (T1) but recovered at 6 months after surgery; 2, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (NL)-palatal plane) was increased after surgery and at 6 months after surgery; 3, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (OL)-occlusal plane) was increased at T1 and was decreased at T2; 4, Soft palate thickness was increased at T1 but it became the same or thinner at T2; 5, There is no statistically significant relation between the amount of maxillary superior movement and pharyngeal airway space. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that the maxillary superior movement of about an average of 4.40 +/- 1.14 mm did not affect upper pharyngeal airway space changes.