• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.185-191
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• 2014

Purpose: Although there have been several studies of reduced airway space after mandibular setback surgery using the sagittal split ramus osteotomy technique, research on the risk factors for changes of the airway space is lacking. Therefore, this study was performed to examine airway changes and the position of the hyoid bone after orthognathic surgery, and to assess possible risk factors. Methods: In this retrospective study, 50 patients who underwent posterior displacement of the mandible by the bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy technique were included. Changes of the position of the hyoid bone and the airway space were analyzed over various follow-up periods, using cephalometric radiography taken preoperatively, immediately after surgery, eight weeks after surgery, six months after surgery, and one year after surgery. To identify risk factors, multiple regression analysis of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), posterior mandibular movement, and the presence of genioplasty was performed. Results: Inferor and posterior movement of the hyoid bone was observed postoperatively, but subsequent observations showed regression towards the anterosuperior aspect. The airway space also significantly decreased after surgery (P<0.05), and increased slightly up until six months after surgery. The airway space significantly decreased (${\beta}=0.47$, P<0.01) as the amount of mandibular setback increased. However, age, sex, BMI, and presence of genioplasty were not associated with airway reduction. Conclusion: The amount of mandibular set back was significantly associated with postoperative reduction of airway space. It is necessary to establish a treatment plan considering this factor.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2000

Purpose : This study was aimed at measuring the changes in the hyoid bone position, tongue position, and pharyngeal airway space in subjects with mandibular setback osteotomies. Methods : Twenty patients were evaluated retrospectively for their changes in pharyngeal airway space, tongue and hyoid bone positions. All patients underwent surgical mandibular setback using bilateral sagittal split osteotomies. The cephalometric analysis was performed preoperatively, and 1 week, 3-6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Result : The hyoid bone moved inferiorly and posteriorly immediately after surgery, and it returned to the preoperative position during follow-up period. The nasopharyngeal airway space was not significantly changed after surgery. A considerable decrease in the oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces following mandibular setback surgery was found. The upper and lower tongue was posteriorly repositioned immediately after surgery. During follow-up period, the hypopharyngeal airway space and lower tongue posture returned to the preoperative positions, but the oropharyngeal airway space and upper tongue posture were not significantly changed. The position of pogonion remarkably changed to backward immediately after surgery, but slightly anterior advancement was found during follow-up period. Conclusion : Immediately after mandibular setback surgery, the oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces obviously decreased due to posterior and inferior repositions of the tongue and hyoid bone. During follow-up period, lower tongue and hyoid bone returned to the preoperative positions, it was related to advancement of the pogonion in this period. The narrowing of the oropharyngeal airway space and posterior movement of the upper tongue posture were relatively permanent after mandibular setback surgery. We suspected this phenomenon had an influence on maintaining the total volume of oral cavity against mandibular setback.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.33.1-33.11
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• 2018

Background: Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback is often accompanied by changes in airway space. We analyzed the changes in airway space before and after surgery and assessed their association with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: This study is based on the cohort of 13 adult patients (9 males, 4 females, average age 23.85 years) who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback. We performed computed tomography and portable polysomnography before and after the surgery to assess changes in airway space and Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) values (total, supine, non-supine). Results: The oropharyngeal airway volume decreased by 29% after the surgery, which was statistically significant (p < .05). The upper airway volume and hypopharyngeal airway volume were decreased, but not significantly (4 and 19%, respectively). The changes in airway surface area were statistically significant at all levels examined (p < .05). Changes in the maximum anteroposterior width of the airway were also significant at all levels (p < .05). However, the changes in maximum lateral width were only statistically significant at C2 level (p < .05). AHI values were increased after the surgery but not significantly at any position. Conclusions: Although bimaxillary surgery with maxillomandibular setback significantly reduces the airway space, it does not affect AHI values or induce obstructive sleep apnea.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2008

Objective: This study examined the craniofacial morphology of young patients in their prepubertal stage showing class I, II malocclusion, by analyzing lateral cephalograms, and analyzed its relationship with tongue position, tongue space, and airway space in order to ascertain the effects of nasopharyngeal airway and tongue morphology on the form of the malocclusion. Methods: Seventy-six patients aging from 9 to 11 were divided into two groups depending on the ANB difference on the lateral cephalogram: Experimental group (CI II malocclusion group) showing $0{\le}ANB$ difference < 4.0; Control group (CI I malocclusion group) showing $0{\le}ANB$ difference < 4.0. The tongue space, space between palate and tongue, nasopharyngeal airway space and craniofacial morphology were compared between the two groups. Results: Tongue space, palate-tongue space, nasopharyngeal airway space showed no significant differences between class I and class II malocclusion groups. Hyperdivergent faces were associated with smaller nasopharyngeal airway space. Longer anterior facial height and posterior facial height were associated with larger tongue space, and greater anterior facial height were associated with lower tongue position. Smaller nasopharyngeal airway space showed smaller tongue space. Conclusions: Tongue space and nasopharyngeal airway space showed no significant differences between class I malocclusion group and class II malocclusion group. Only anterior facial height and posterior facial height had an influence on tongue space and nasopharyngeal airway space.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes induced in the pharyngeal airway space by orthodontic treatment with bodily retraction of the mandibular incisors and mandibular setback surgery without extraction. Methods: This retrospective study included 63 adult patients (32 men and 31 women). Thirty-three patients who had been treated via four-bicuspid extraction and bodily retraction of the mandibular incisors (incisor retraction, IR group) were compared with 30 patients who had been treated via mandibular setback surgery (MS group) without extraction. Lateral cephalograms were acquired and analyzed before (T1) and after treatment (T2). Results: The superior pharyngeal airway space did not change significantly in either group during treatment. The middle pharyngeal airway space decreased by $1.15{\pm}1.17mm$ and $1.25{\pm}1.35mm$ after treatment in the IR and MS groups, respectively, and the decrease was comparable between the two groups. In the MS group, the inferior pharyngeal airway space (E-IPW) decreased by $0.88{\pm}1.67mm$ after treatment (p < 0.01). The E-IPW was larger in the MS group than in IR group at T1, but it did not differ significantly between the two groups at T2. No significant correlation was observed between changes in the pharyngeal airway space and the skeletal and dental variables in each group. Conclusions: The middle pharyngeal airway space decreased because of the posterior displacement of the mandibular incisors and/or the mandibular body. The E-IPW decreased only in the MS group because of the posterior displacement of only the mandibular body.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2007

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 x-ray 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 set-back 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.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2001

The purpose of this study cephalometrically evaluated changes in the posterior airway space for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) before and after surgical advancement of the maxilla and mandible. The change in calculated airway resistance was correlated with the respiratory disturbance index(RDI). Twenty cephalometric radiographs were traced before and after surgery to determine the posterior airway area and calculate resistance. Polysomnograms of each patient were obtained before and after surgery. All patients had a decrease in calculated airflow resistance in the airway. The mean amount of resistance was 865.15 before surgery, decreasing to 192.65 after surgery (p<0.01). Eighty-five percent of the patients experienced improvement in their RDI. Reduction in the RDI appears to be due to an increase in the posterior airway space and decrease in flow resistance.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in the pharyngeal airway space, tongue and hyoid bone positions according to the orthognathic surgical methods of mandibular prognathism. Methods: The subjects included 30 patients (16 males, 14 females) with the skeletal class III malocclusion. Group 1 (10 patients) underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) only; group 2 (10 patients) underwent BSSRO with genioplasty; and group 3 (10 patients) underwent BSSRO, Le Fort I osteotomy. We measured the lines between the selected upper air way, hyoid bone and tongue landmarks on the lateral cephalometric x-ray films of skeletal class III. The measurements were made preoperation, within 1 week after the operation, 3~6 months after the operation and 1 year after the operation. We compared and analyzed the measurements with matched paired t-test and independent samples t-test. Results: There were no postoperative changes in the nasopharyngeal airway space in group 3. The measurements of group 3 also increased during the follow-up period as compared to the preoperative measurements. In group 1, 2 and 3, the immediate postoperative oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces were decreased. In the following period, the hypopharyngeal airway space returned to the preoperative positions, but the oropharyngeal airway space was not significantly changed. The upper and lower tongue was posteriorly repositioned immediately after the surgery. During the follow-up period, the lower tongue position returned to the preoperative position, and the upper tongue position was not significantly changed. Immediately after the surgery, the B point was moved to the posterior position, and a slight anterior advancement was found in the follow-up period. Conclusion: Patients who received the mandibular setback surgery showed a decrease in the posterior airway space, and those who underwent maxillary advancement showed a significant increase of the nasopharyngeal airway space, which remained stable during the evaluation period. The change of the airway space, position of the hyoid bone and tongue did not differ according to the presence or absence of genioplasty.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2006

After orthognathic surgery in skeletal class III patients, the hyoid bone position and the upper airway dimension could be changed due to mandibular setback. There has been many studies about airway dimension of the patients with skeletal class II malocclusion or obstructive sleep apnea. but not with skeletal class III. The purpose of this study was to examine the change of position of the hyoid bone and the consequent change of airway space as the result of retrusion of mandible after orthognathic surgery in skeletal Cl III malocclusion patients. It is also to apply this results in predicting, diagnosing and treating the subsequent obstructive sleep apnea. Forty patients who were diagnosed as skeletal Cl III maloccusion, received orthoganthic surgery of both jaws including mandibular setback, and were followed up post-operatively for more than 6 months were selected. There were 10 male patients 30 female patients. The preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalograms were traced and the distances and angles were measured. The nasopharyngeal space increased postoperatively while the oropharyngeal space decreased. Except for the change of oroparyngeal space, the changes in male patients were greater than female patients. The hyoid bone moved in the posterior-inferior direction, and the change was greater in males than in females. If the postoperative mandibular setback is great, then a significant decrease of airway space and posterior and inferior movement of the hyoid bone were observed. This can result in symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea. This result should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment planning of orthognathic surgery patients.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.115-131
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• 2000

In the study of craniofacial deformity, it is very important that identifying the factor which can affect the morphology and which is closely related to the morphology, because it can not only improve the comprehension of growth and developmental process but also be applied in growth prediction and treatment modality. Several investigators have already mentioned the characterstics of head posture and airway space in relations to morphologic difference. But it is very meaningful work in clarifying the correlation between morphology, head posture and airway space that observing the change of head posture after morplologic change caused by operation and the change of airway space after same procedure. To investigate above correlation, I selected normal group which is consisted of 43 adults and mandibular prognathism group which is consisted of 47 adults who had been operated by sagittal split ramus osteotomy and were followed up more than 1 year. With their lateral skull radiograghs, reference lines which can evaluate each measuring points and areas without effect of postural change were first determined. And using above reference lines, change of airway space, positional change of tongue and hyoid, change of cranial and cervical angulations were measured. The results obtained from the study were as follows 1. In the change of head posture, the position of tongue and hyoid neighboring to pharynx is more closely related to the reference line of cervical column than to reference line of cranium. 2. After mandibular setback operation, the airway dimension was decreased to 81.6% of preoperative state at 1 month postoperatively and was slightly increased to 89.7% at 1 year postoperatively. 3. Posterior movement of tongue plays important role in decrease of airway dimension and inferior movement of hyoid was closely correlated with posterior movement of tongue. 4. Postoperative anterior movement of mandible, namely, morphologic relapse had correlation with relapse phenomenon of airway dimension. 5. Craniocervical angulation increased postoperatively. Especially in the postoperative early state, there was increased foreward inclination of cervical angulation rather than increase of cranial angulation. But at postoperative 1 year it was observed that cervical inclination was returned to preoperative state and cranial angulation was increased gradually. 6. Increase rate of airway dimension was correlated with the increase of cranial angulation from postoperative 1 month to 1 year. In conclusion, relapse tendency of airway dimension following increase of cranial angulation was found after mandibular setback operation and it is considered that increase of cranial angulation is one of compensatory mechanism in airway maintenance.