Tsolakis Ioannis A, Kolokitha Olga-Elpis
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
J Clin Med. 2023 Jul 14;12(14):4686. doi: 10.3390/jcm12144686.
The aim of this study is to investigate the upper airway analysis at two-time points after the rapid maxillary expansion was performed, using cone-beam computed tomography.
Subjects from the Orthodontic Department at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite were screened according to the selection criteria. A sample size calculation was performed, and a total of 14 subjects were recruited. All subjects received a rapid maxillary expansion with a Hyrax-type device as part of their comprehensive treatment. A CBCT was taken before the treatment (T1), immediately after the expansion was completed (T2), and 6 months after (T3). Their upper airway was measured using the CBCT images. Airway volume (V) and minimal cross-sectional area (MCS) were extracted and compared using SPSS to analyze the means.
A statistically significant difference was found between all time points regarding both V and MCS ( < 0.001, = 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in both V and MCS measurements immediately after RPE expansion (T1-T2) and six months after expansion (T1-T3). Between the end of expansion and 6 months after (T2-T3), there was a decrease in V and no statistical difference in MCS.
RPE can significantly increase the volume and minimal cross-sectional area of the nasal passage airway.
本研究旨在使用锥形束计算机断层扫描技术，对上颌快速扩弓术后两个时间点的上气道进行分析。
根据入选标准，对塞萨洛尼基亚里士多德大学正畸科单侧或双侧后牙反合的受试者进行筛选。进行了样本量计算，共招募了14名受试者。所有受试者均接受了Hyrax型装置的上颌快速扩弓治疗，作为其综合治疗的一部分。在治疗前（T1）、扩弓完成后即刻（T2）和6个月后（T3）拍摄锥形束计算机断层扫描（CBCT）。使用CBCT图像测量其上气道。提取气道容积（V）和最小横截面积（MCS），并使用SPSS分析均值进行比较。
在所有时间点，V和MCS均存在统计学显著差异（<0.001，=0.001）。上颌快速扩弓（RPE）后即刻（T1-T2）和扩弓后6个月（T1-T3），V和MCS测量值均有统计学显著增加。在扩弓结束至6个月后（T2-T3）之间，V有所下降，MCS无统计学差异。
上颌快速扩弓（RPE）可显著增加鼻腔气道的容积和最小横截面积。
