Cephalometric soft tissue analysis of combined elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid suspension for obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE

This study sought to determine the changes in cephalometric facial profile soft tissue measurements after simultaneous elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid suspension procedures for obstructive sleep apnea.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalometric soft tissue changes in 23 consecutive patients who had undergone combined elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid bone suspension for polysomnogram-confirmed obstructive sleep apnea. Six cephalometric soft tissue measurements of the lower face were evaluated: pogonion (Pg'-Pg), menton (Me'-Me), gnathion (G'-G), lower lip (LI-L1i), B point (B-B'), and horizontal distance from subnasale perpendicular to the soft tissue chin at the level of pogonion (SN-Pg'). Statistical analysis was conducted with the paired Student t test (with 95% confidence interval of difference between means) and found significant for P < .05. Post hoc power analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences among all 6 preoperative and postoperative cephalometric, radiographic soft tissue measurements of the lower facial profile.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid suspension procedures for obstructive sleep apnea do not significantly change the cephalometric lower facial profile. In patients with an adequate lower facial profile with base-of-tongue obstruction who require surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea without alteration of their lower facial profile, this procedure does not significantly alter the preoperative facial profile.