Nasal and maxillary sinus volume change in patients with obstructive sleep apnea after bimaxillary advancement surgery

The airway complex is modified by bimaxillary advancement surgery performed in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of the present study is to analyse the volume of nasal and maxillary sinus after bimaxillary advancement surgery in patients suffering from OSA. The maxillary sinus and nasal complex of eighteen patients with OSA was measured through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) before and after they were treated with bimaxillary advancement surgery. Digital planning software was used to effectively measure the upper volume changes, as well as, statistical analysis of the results was performed.Methods Eighteen patients were diagnosed with OSA the severity of which was measured by the apnea hypopnea index and were selected and submitted to preoperative and postoperative CBCT scans. Afterwards, datasets were uploaded into therapeutic digital planning software (Dolphin Imaging) to measure the volume of the right and left maxillary sinus and nasal and maxillary sinus complex. Statistically analysis between preoperative and postoperative measures was performed by Student t-test statistical analysis.Results The paired t-test showed statistically significant volumetric reductions in the left maxillary sinus (p = 0.0004), right maxillary sinus (p < 0.0001) and nasal and maxillary sinus complex (p = 0.0009) after bimaxillary advancement surgery performed in patients suffering from OSA.Conclusion The results showed that bimaxillary advancement surgery reduces the maxillary sinus volume as well as, the fossa nasal and sinus complex volume.

Correlation between polysomnographic parameters and volumetric changes generated by maxillomandibular advancement surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a fluid dynamics study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Maxillomandibular advancement surgery (MMA) is a therapeutic option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of MMA on the physical and airflow characteristics of the upper airway based on data obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and to correlate these data with polysomnography parameters. Other objectives included the identification of presurgical variables that could help avoid surgeries likely to have a low success rate.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study of 18 patients with moderate-severe OSA who underwent MMA. Polysomnography and computed axial tomography imaging were performed before and after the surgery. Three-dimensional models for CFD study were made based on the images obtained.

RESULTS

MMA achieved an average increase in airway volume of 43.75%, with a mean decrease in the maximum airway velocity of 40.3%. We found significant correlations between improved apnea-hypopnea index values and both the increase in airway volume and decrease in maximum airway speed. Patients with a maximum velocity of less than 7.2 m/s before the intervention had a high rate of surgical failure (43%).

CONCLUSIONS

MMA generates a significant increase in the volume of the upper airway, which was associated with improved flow conditions in the CFD simulation. These findings also correlated with improved polysomnography parameters. Thus, CFD simulation on three-dimensional anatomical models of patients with OSA could contribute to the better selection of candidates for MMA.

CITATION

Furundarena-Padrones L, Cabriada-Nuño V, Brunsó-Casellas J, et al. Correlation between polysomnographic parameters and volumetric changes generated by maxillomandibular advancement surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a fluid dynamics study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(3):371-379.