Three-dimensional analysis of the pharyngeal airway space and hyoid bone position after orthognathic surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) and hyoid bone position after orthognathic surgery with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

This study was conducted with the tomographic records of 30 patients with skeletal class II or III deformities submitted to two different types of orthognathic surgery: Group 1 (n = 15), maxillary advancement, and mandibular setback; and Group 2 (n = 15), maxillomandibular advancement. CBCT scans were acquired preoperatively (T₀); and at around 1.5 months (T₁) and 6.7 months (T₂) postoperatively. PAS volume, minimum cross-sectional area (min CSA), and hyoid bone position changes were assessed with Dolphin Imaging 3D software, and results analyzed with ANOVA and a Tukey-Kramer test (p < 0.05).

The hyoid bone was significantly displaced in the horizontal dimension, moving posteriorly in Group 1, and anteriorly in Group 2. Although PAS volume and min CSA increased after both surgeries, these measurements were significantly larger only in Group 2. The significant differences that existed between groups preoperatively no longer existed after the surgeries.

Both orthognathic surgeries assessed resulted in changes in hyoid bone position and increased PAS volume and min CSA, particularly after maxillomandibular advancement surgery.