Efficacy of pillar implants to reduce snoring and daytime sleepiness

To measure the efficacy of pillar implants in reducing snoring.

A total of 30 adult patients who underwent pillar implants were assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the implantation. Improvement was measured using snoring frequency, visual analog scale for snoring loudness, and Epworth sleepiness scale for daytime sleepiness.

The mean snoring frequency, loudness and Epworth score were reduced from 6.9, 9.2 and 7.4 at the baseline to 5, 5.9 and 5.6, respectively, at 12 months postoperatively (all p < 0.03). The partial implant extrusion rate was 6.7%.

We suggest that a pillar implant procedure should be considered before proceeding to more morbid surgeries in patients with snoring and daytime sleepiness.