Outcome Following Surgical Interventions for Micrognathia in Infants With Pierre Robin Sequence: A Systematic Review

Insights

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) shows the lowest rate of persistent airway obstruction in infants with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) compared to tongue-lip adhesion (TLA). Standardized polysomnography (PSG) is crucial for assessing outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Craniofacial Surgery
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) infants often present with severe airway obstruction.
  • Common surgical interventions include tongue-lip adhesion (TLA), mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO), and subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth (SPRFM).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the failure rates of TLA, MDO, and SPRFM in PRS infants.
  • To compare postoperative airway obstruction using polysomnography (PSG) data across these procedures.
  • To assess mortality and tracheostomy rates associated with each surgical approach.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed (1981-2015).
  • Data extracted included diagnosis, surgical procedure, mortality, tracheostomy need, and PSG results.
  • Significant airway obstruction postoperatively was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index >15 events/h on PSG.

Main Results:

  • Mortality and tracheostomy rates were low across all procedures.
  • Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) demonstrated the lowest incidence of significant postoperative airway obstruction (3.6%).
  • Tongue-lip adhesion (TLA) had a significantly higher rate (50%), with insufficient PSG data for SPRFM.

Conclusions:

  • There is a lack of objective PSG data for assessing postoperative airway outcomes in PRS.
  • MDO appears to be the most effective surgical technique based on available PSG data.
  • Standardized PSG use can improve the identification and management of infants at risk for suboptimal airway outcomes.
Abstract

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