[Long-term alternations in the hypopharyngeal respiratory tract after mandibular setback]

10 patients were evaluated retrospectively for their long-term changes in hypopharyngeal airway space after surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. All patients had undergone mandibular setbacks by way of bilateral sagittal split osteotomies with rigid fixation. The cephalometric evaluation of the hypopharyngeal airway space was based on stable craniofacial landmarks. The results of this study indicate that mandibular setbacks procedures create relative narrowing of the hypopharyngeal airway space, which in isolated cases might contribute to the development of an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.