Changes in Hyoid Bone Position Before and After Distraction Osteogenesis in Infants With Robin Sequence

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• 3D Imaging in Medicine

Background:

• Robin sequence presents challenges in airway management due to mandibular hypoplasia.
• Hyoid bone position is critical for upper airway patency and deglutition.
• Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is a key surgical intervention for Robin sequence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify hyoid bone positional changes following mandibular distraction osteogenesis in infants with Robin sequence.
• To identify factors influencing these hyoid bone alterations.
• To understand the impact on tongue posture and airway dimensions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 3D computed tomography scans from 26 infants with Robin sequence before and after mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
• Utilized Materialise Mimics 17.0 software for precise 3D hyoid bone and craniofacial landmark measurements.
• Evaluated changes in hyoid bone position relative to cranial base, mandible, and epiglottis.

Main Results:

• Significant downward and forward hyoid bone displacement observed post-surgery.
• Increased hyoid bone-cranial base vertical distance, hyoid bone-mental point distance, and hyoid bone-epiglottis distance.
• Tongue axis angles (relative to hard palate and mandibular plane) decreased, indicating clockwise rotation.

Conclusions:

• Mandibular distraction osteogenesis effectively repositions the hyoid bone in infants with Robin sequence.
• Hyoid bone movement is associated with improved airway dimensions and altered tongue posture.
• Younger age at surgery correlates with greater hyoid bone positional changes.