Mandibular lengthening by distraction osteogenesis for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a case report.

A 31-year-old man who had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) due to retrognathia was referred to our hospital. Before treatment, the angle of the sella-nasion-point B (SNB) was 67 degrees. The lowest oxygen saturation (SpO2) during sleep was 77%, the longest-running episode of sleep apnea was 128 seconds, and his apnea index (AI) was 29.9. He underwent bilateral horizontal mandibular distraction osteogenesis using intraoral distraction devices. After mandibular distraction, SNB increased to 72 degrees. The lowest SpO2 during sleep increased to 85%, the longest-running episode of sleep apnea decreased to 40 seconds, and his AI decreased to 4.1 (within normal range). No marked recurrence of OSAS was observed even at one year after mandibular distraction. This report suggests that mandibular lengthening by distraction osteogenesis is an effectual method for the treatment of OSAS due to retrognathia.