A comparison study of upper airway among different skeletal craniofacial patterns in nonsnoring Chinese children

Patients with OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) demonstrate decreased upper airway dimension and craniofacial skeletal abnormalities. The study was performed to analyze whether upper airway dimensions differed among Chinese nonsnoring children of different sagittal and vertical skeletal facial morphologies.

Lateral cephalometric records were used to measure the dimensions of the upper airway. Two groups of subjects were studied. A group of subjects with a normodivergent facial pattern (n = 190; FH-MP angle between 23.5 degrees and 30.5 degrees ) was divided into three subgroups according to ANB angle (Class I, II, or III). A second group of subjects with a normal sagittal facial pattern (n = 180; ANB angle between 0.7 degrees and 4.7 degrees ) was divided into three subgroups according to the FH-MP angle (low angle, normal angle, or high angle). All subgroups were matched for age and sex.

In the group of subjects with a normodivergent facial pattern, a significant tendency for reduced upper airway dimension in the inferior part (palatopharyngeal and hypopharynx) was found in the Class III, Class I, and Class II subgroups, in that order. In the group of subjects with a normal sagittal facial pattern, the superior part of the airway (nasopharyngeal and palatopharyngeal) decreased with increasing mandibular plane angle.

The sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns may be contributory factors for the variation of the inferior and superior part of the upper airway, respectively. Skeletal deficiency of nonsnoring Chinese children may predispose them to upper airway obstruction.