Could mandibular fractures lead to obstructive sleep apnea?

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Sleep Medicine
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder.
• Mandibular fractures can impact airway patency and respiratory function.
• The relationship between mandibular fracture type and OSA requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of OSA in patients with isolated mandibular fractures.
• To assess the effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation (OR/IF) in resolving OSA post-fracture repair.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving patients with traumatic isolated mandibular fractures.
• Polysomnography (PSG) performed before and 3 months after surgical intervention (OR/IF).
• Analysis of fracture laterality (unilateral vs. bilateral) and OSA diagnosis.

Main Results:

• OSA was detected in 35.3% of patients, exclusively those with bilateral mandibular fractures.
• Mild OSA was present in 17.65% and moderate OSA in 17.65% of patients.
• Following OR/IF, all patients achieved successful fracture reduction, and PSG normalized, indicating OSA resolution.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral mandibular fractures are a significant risk factor for developing OSA.
• Surgical repair of bilateral mandibular fractures via OR/IF effectively cures associated OSA.
• Unilateral mandibular fractures are not associated with OSA.