Craniofacial morphology in preschool children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common problem in children. It is characterised by a combination of partial airway obstruction associated with hypoxemia and hypoventilation and intermittent obstructive apnoea, which disrupts normal ventilation and sleep. The aim of the study was to evaluate the craniofacial features of preschool children with polysomnographic diagnosis of OSAS, using measurements from standardized lateral cephalograms according to the floating norms cephalometric analysis.


METHODS
21 untreated caucasian children (mean age of 4.57 +/-0.6) with complete deciduous dentition were included in this study. All the subjects had diagnosis of OSAS with a positive RDI. Pretreatment cephalometric radiographs were evaluated. Statistical method Descriptive statistics includes mean and standard deviation of the cephalometric variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that OSAS preschool children showed a skeletal Class II pattern with retrognathic mandible and increased skeletal divergency.
Marino
A
A
Sapienza University of Rome, 2nd Medical Faculty, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Dentistry and Orthodontics Unit, Rome, Italy. alessandramarinoit@yahoo.it
Malagnino
I
I
Ranieri
R
R
Villa
M P
MP
Malagola
C
C
D002508:Cephalometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000150:complications; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D014716:Vertical Dimension