Genioglossus Advancement: Technique Modification for Improved Chin Contour

Genioglossus advancement plays an important role in the armamentarium of the obstructive sleep apnea surgeon and has gone through many iterations over several decades. A recently described technique involves creating a box osteotomy, which is carried through the inferior border of the mandible in order to increase recruitment of the suprahyoid musculature. Here we introduce a further modification of the technique that uses virtual planning to improve the safety and accuracy of genial tubercle capture. In addition, angulation of the lateral osteotomies enhances bone to bone contact. Before the osteotomy, the surgeon has the opportunity to drill the buccal plate to reduce the chin profile. This approach is particularly valuable in the patient who is prognathic at baseline or who becomes prognathic after simultaneous maxillomandibular advancement. Here we discuss this unique approach, demonstrating how the patient profile may be balanced even as the genial tubercle is advanced.