Effect of Neck-Bending on Upper Airway Caliber and Surrounding Soft Tissues in Controls and Apneics

Head and neck flexion/extension affect upper airway size. The mechanisms that contribute to these effects are unclear.

To investigate the changes in airway caliber and movement of the surrounding soft-tissues in apneics and controls during head/neck flexion and extension.

Upper airway MRI was obtained in 24 controls (AHI<5; 1.5±1.5 events/hour) and 33 apneics (AHI≥5; 33.2±28.7 events/hour) with the neck in flexion, extension, and neutral positions. Differences in airway measures and soft-tissue movement were assessed.

During extension, controls and apneics showed increased minimum cross-sectional area (CSA) and lateral dimensions in the retropalatal airway (p≤0.007) and increases in all retroglossal airway measures (p≤0.018) compared to neutral position; controls also had increased retropalatal anteroposterior (AP) dimension (p=0.015). During flexion, both groups showed reduced retropalatal lateral dimensions (p≤0.016); controls also had reduced retroglossal CSA (p=0.007). When examining associations with degree of head/neck bending, moving from flexion to extension resulted in increased retropalatal and retroglossal airway sizes (p<0.0001), less lateral wall narrowing (p≤0.002), and more anterosuperior movement of the soft palate and tongue (p≤0.0001). Results were generally consistent in controls and apneics, although each 1° change from flexion to extension resulted in greater increases in retropalatal airway size in controls (interaction p≤0.005).

Controls and apneics showed reductions in retropalatal and retroglossal airway caliber during neck flexion and increases during extension, primarily due to movement of the soft palate, tongue, and lateral pharyngeal walls. These data provide important insights into the role of head and neck position on upper airway caliber.