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Updated: Oct 22, 2025
A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
Postoperative changes in the pharyngeal airway space through computed tomography evaluation after mandibular setback
No Eul Kang1, Dae Hun Lee1, Ja In Seo1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Oral Health Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164, Worldcup-ro, Yengto-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea.
Background:
This study evaluated the pharyngeal airway space changes up to 1 year after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy mandibular setback surgery and bimaxillary surgery with maxillary posterior impaction through three-dimensional computed tomography analysis.
Methods:
A total of 37 patients diagnosed with skeletal class III malocclusion underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy setback surgery only (group 1, n = 23) or bimaxillary surgery with posterior impaction (group 2, n = 14). Cone-beam computed tomography scans were taken before surgery (T0), 2 months after surgery (T1), 6 months after surgery (T2), and 1 year after surgery (T3). The nasopharynx (Nph), oropharynx (Oph), hypopharynx (Hph) volume, and anteroposterior distance were measured through the InVivo Dental Application version 5.
Results:
In group 1, Oph AP, Oph volume, Hph volume, and whole pharynx volume were significantly decreased after the surgery (T1) and maintained. In group 2, Oph volume and whole pharynx volume were decreased (T2) and relapsed at 1 year postoperatively (T3).
Conclusion:
In class III malocclusion patients, mandibular setback surgery only showed a greater reduction in pharyngeal airway than bimaxillary surgery at 1 year postoperatively, and bimaxillary surgery was more stable in terms of airway. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the airway before surgery and include it in the surgical plan.
