Morphological assessment of the soft palate in habitual snoring using image analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Define differences in palatal and uvular dimensions between habitual snorers and healthy nonsnoring control subjects. Document the changes in palatal configuration after different types of palatoplasty.


METHODS
A prospective controlled clinical study was performed analyzing video recordings of the soft palate and oropharynx of 251 subjects (121 habitual snorers, 79 patients after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty ([LAUP], and 51 healthy volunteers).


METHODS
The recordings were captured using a rigid endoscope with a reference measure applied to the soft palate and a mark at the junction of the soft and hard palate. Four parameters were studied in the captured pictures after correction for the distortion deformity in fiberoptic endoscopic images: 1) length of soft palate, 2) length of uvula, 3) width of uvula, and 4) distance between posterior pillars.


RESULTS
Analysis showed that habitual snorers, compared with healthy volunteers have significantly increased soft palate length (P = .00001), increased uvula length (P = .0002) and width (P = .00001), and narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus (distance between the posterior pillars) (P = .04). In patients studied after LAUP, the length of the soft palate is significantly shorter (P = .00001) than in the preoperative cohort, and the oropharyngeal isthmus is significantly narrower (P = .00001). Moreover, this latter distance is significantly narrower (P = .00001) when compared with healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
Habitual snorers have a long soft palate, a long wide uvula, and a narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus. LAUP shortens and tightens the elongated palate and causes a further reduction in the space between the posterior pillars.
Reda
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Sims
A J
AJ
Collins
M M
MM
McKee
G J
GJ
Marshall
H
H
Kelly
P J
PJ
Wilson
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012913:Snoring / Q000473:pathology*; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*