A radiographic study of changes of upper respiratory airway space after orthognathic surgery of both jaws in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is the changes of upper respiratory airway space in patients with mandibular prognathism after 2-jaw orthognathic surgery in patients with skeletal classs III malocclusion. METHOD: We measured the lines between selected upper airway landmarks on lateral cephalometric xray films of skeletal class III 64 persons who had not been operated yet, were 6 months after operation. The test subjects were divided into 3 groups according to maxillary movement, as follows; maxillary advancement (MA) group, maxillary posterior impaction (MPI) group, maxillary posterior impaction and superior repositioning (MPI+MSR) group.RESULT: In this study, nasopharyngeal airway space in MPI+MSR group was significantly increased after operation (p<0.05). Oropharygeal and hypopharyngeal airway space in MA group and MPI group were significantly decreased after operation (p<0.05). From hyoid bone to anterior mandible point distance in MA group and MPI group were significantly decreased after operation (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Oropharygeal and hypopharyngeal airway space were influenced more by mandibular setback than maxillary movement. Maxillary movement surgery as well as mandibular setback surgery should be taken into consideration in order to minimize symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after operation.