Pharyngeal airway changes after sagittal split ramus osteotomy of the mandible: a comparison between genders.

PURPOSE

To investigate the difference in the pharyngeal airway after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) procedures between male and female patients with Class III malocclusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, 30 male and 47 female Korean patients were studied. All were diagnosed with Class III malocclusion and had undergone SSRO treatment. The pharyngeal airway was measured at 3 different levels: uvula tip, low C2, and mid-C3 of the lateral cephalograms. It was measured during 3 periods preoperatively and also during the second and twelfth month postoperatively. The changes in the pharyngeal airway were compared between the male and female patients.

RESULTS

The size of the pharyngeal airway preoperatively was approximately the same in both genders. In contrast, after the SSRO procedure, the pharyngeal airway became narrow when measured at all 3 levels, without any significant difference in either group. However, the degree of narrowness, which is correlated with the distance of mandibular setback, was only found in female patients.

CONCLUSION

After the SSRO procedure, the pharyngeal airway became narrow in both genders. However, the degree of narrowness, which is proportionate to the distance of the mandibular setback, only occurred in the female patients.