Retrospective study of changes in pharyngeal airway space and position of hyoid bone after mandibular setback surgery by cephalometric analysis

BACKGROUND The posterior movement of mandible was known as the main cause of the changes in the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) and the postoperative obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study was to know the changes of PAS and position of hyoid bone. METHODS Lateral cephalographies of 13 patients who had undergone sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) setback surgery were taken preoperatively (T1), postoperatively within 2 months (T2), and follow-up after 6 months or more (T3). On the basis of F-H plane, diameters of nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were measured. The movements of the soft palate, tongue, and hyoid bone were also measured. RESULTS The amount of mandible setback was 7.5 ± 3.8 mm. In the measurements of PAS, there was a statistically significant decrease of 2.8 ± 2.5 mm in nasopharynx (P < 0.01), and 1.7 ± 2.4 mm in oropharynx (P < 0.01) were observed after surgery. The hypopharynx decreased 1.0 ± 2.1 mm after surgery and continuously decreased 1.0 ± 2.8 mm at follow-up. The changes in hyoid bone position showed the posterior movement only after surgery and posteroinferior movement at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The PAS such as nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx showed relatively high correlation with the amount of mandibular setback. The change of resistance in upper airway may be important for the prevention of OSA after mandibular setback surgery.