title: Evaluation of the posterior airway space following Biobloc therapy: geometric morphometrics.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the posterior airway space in patients following Biobloc therapy, using geometric morphometrics. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalographs of 53 children (mean age, 12.9 +/- 1.5 years; mean treatment time, 21.3 +/- 6.2 months) were scanned and 27 landmarks encompassing the airway were digitized. Mean configurations were computed using Procrustes superimposition, followed by principal components analysis (PCA) and finite-element scaling analysis (FESA). Marked shape-changes were identified using PCA for the airway following treatment (p < 0.01). Using pseudo-colored FESA, a relative 31% increase in nasopharyngeal airway area was found above and behind the soft palate. Additionally, a 23% increase in oropharyngeal airway area was located behind the base of the tongue with a 9% increase in hypopharyngeal area near the level of the hyoid bone. Functional airway improvements are associated with Biobloc treatment in actively growing patients.
authors.affiliation: gdsingh27@gmail.com
authors.forename: G Dave
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ana Victoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Garcia-Motta
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hang
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000628:therapy*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D009972:Orthodontics, Interceptive / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000628:therapy*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy