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[Conservative orthodontic primary care of four newborns with the Pierre-Robin sequence triad]
Björn Ludwig1, Bettina Glasl, Robert Sader
1Department of Orthodontics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Kfoludwig@aol.com
Insights
Pierre-Robin sequence newborns with airway obstruction can be treated with a modified oral appliance. This device precisely adjusts to open the airway, improving breathing and jaw positioning.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Neonatology
Background:
- Pierre-Robin sequence presents significant respiratory challenges in newborns due to micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate.
- Effective therapeutic interventions are crucial for managing life-threatening airway obstructions in affected infants.
Observation:
- This study details the use of a modified oral appliance with an adjustable pharyngeal spur in four infants with Pierre-Robin sequence.
- The appliance was individually adapted based on each infant's developmental stage.
Findings:
- Precise, modifiable adaptation of the oral appliance successfully opened the narrow airway in all observed cases.
- The intervention positively influenced tongue position and the sagittal position of the mandible.
Implications:
- This modified oral appliance offers a promising therapeutic strategy for neonatal airway obstruction in Pierre-Robin sequence.
- Further research can explore long-term outcomes and broader applications of this adjustable device.
Abstract:
Newborns with Pierre-Robin sequence often suffer from serious or even life-threatening obstructions in the respiratory tract resulting from anatomic malformations (micrognathia, glossoptosis and potentially a median cleft palate). Such babies require immediate effective therapeutic measures. Our case descriptions of four babies with the typical triad illustrate the application of a modified upper plate with an individually-adjustable pharyngeal spur. Precise and individually-modifiable adaptation of the plate's pharyngeal parts--depending on the developmental stage--permit the narrow airway to be opened, which then affects the tongue's position and the sagittal position of the mandible.
