STUDY OBJECTIVES: Although volumetric changes of the upper airway occur following surgical advancement of the maxilla, few studies investigated these changes using three-dimensional imaging techniques. Thus, the goal of this study was to verify whether the surgical advancement of the maxilla affects the volume of the upper airway and to determine any association of these volume changes with sex and age. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 14 patients (8 male and 6 female) who underwent maxillary advancement to correct skeletal class III deformities were assessed to determine the postoperative volumetric changes in the upper airway. Preoperative and postoperative airway volume measurements were compared by means of paired t-test, which was also used to compare airway volume between genders. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to verify whether a correlation between age and upper airway volume was present. RESULTS: Maxillary advancement produced significant upper airway volume increases (mean 20.94%, p < 0.05) on nearly half of our sample. However, sex and age did not seem to influence upper airway volume in our sample of skeletal class III patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical advancement of the maxilla may produce significant volume increases in the upper airway of skeletal class III patients regardless of sex and age.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Although volumetric changes of the upper airway occur following surgical advancement of the maxilla, few studies investigated these changes using three-dimensional imaging techniques. Thus, the goal of this study was to verify whether the surgical advancement of the maxilla affects the volume of the upper airway and to determine any association of these volume changes with sex and age. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 14 patients (8 male and 6 female) who underwent maxillary advancement to correct skeletal class III deformities were assessed to determine the postoperative volumetric changes in the upper airway. Preoperative and postoperative airway volume measurements were compared by means of paired t-test, which was also used to compare airway volume between genders. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to verify whether a correlation between age and upper airway volume was present. RESULTS: Maxillary advancement produced significant upper airway volume increases (mean 20.94%, p < 0.05) on nearly half of our sample. However, sex and age did not seem to influence upper airway volume in our sample of skeletal class III patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical advancement of the maxilla may produce significant volume increases in the upper airway of skeletal class III patients regardless of sex and age.
Authors: Giovanni Badiali; Ottavia Lunari; Mirko Bevini; Barbara Bortolani; Laura Cercenelli; Manuela Lorenzetti; Emanuela Marcelli; Alberto Bianchi; Claudio Marchetti Journal: J Pers Med Date: 2021-03-04