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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Soft tissue airway dimensions and craniocervical posture in subjects with different growth patterns
Juhi Ansar1, Sandhya Maheshwari2, Sanjeev K Verma3
1a Senior lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Dental sciences, Bareilly, India.
Objective:
To compare the dimensions of the nasopharynx and oropharynx of subjects with different growth patterns and to determine whether any correlation exists with their craniocervical posture.
Materials And Methods:
Cephalometric radiograph of 60 subjects (16-25 years old), taken in natural head position, were divided into three groups according to the mandibular plane angle: hypodivergent (SN/MP <26°), normodivergent (SN/MP 26°-38°), and hyperdivergent (SN/MP <38°). Correlations were calculated between nasopharyngeal area, oropharyngeal area, and craniocervical posture. Continuous variables were compared by one-way analysis of variance, and the significance of mean difference between the groups was done by the Tukey post hoc test. A value of P < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Patients in the hyperdivergent group were found to have significantly smaller nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal areas than the other groups (P < .001 and P < .05, respectively). Similarly, the oropharyngeal area in the normodivergent group was significantly smaller than that in the hypodivergent group (P < .05). However, no significant differences were found in the nasopharyngeal area between the hypodivergent and normodivergent groups and between the hyperdivergent and normodivergent groups (P > .05). Reduced pharyngeal airways were typically seen in patients with a large craniocervical angle and a large mandibular inclination.
Conclusions:
Smaller nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways were seen in connection with a large craniocervical and a large mandibular inclination. We therefore suggest that the vertical skeletal pattern may be one of the factors that contribute to nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal obstruction.
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