A pilot study to evaluate posttreatment cephalometric changes in subjects with OSA.
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a life-threatening condition that is diagnosed and evaluated primarily by polysomnography (PSG). The procedure is time consuming, expensive, and inconvenient for the patient, and may not be universally available.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate posttreatment results on lateral cephalograms in patients with OSA.


METHODS
Lateral cephalograms of 16 patients diagnosed with OSA were made at the beginning of treatment and 4-6 weeks following treatment. Treatment modalities used in the study were the mandibular advancement device (MAD) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (n=8). Pharyngeal dimensions, soft palate area and angle, and hyoid bone position were recorded for the comparisons. The data were analyzed using Student's t test for the parametric analysis (alpha=.05).


RESULTS
A significant increase in the pharyngeal area (P<.001), a significant decrease in the soft palate area (P<.001), and vertical changes in the hyoid position were observed, with no significant change in the anteroposterior position of the hyoid bone.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this pilot study, lateral cephalograms were shown to be useful in evaluating treatment efficacy in subjects with OSA.
Arya
Deeksha
D
Department of Prosthodontics and Dental Material Sciences, Career Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. deeksha.arya@gmail.com
Tripathi
Arvind
A
Singh
Saumyendra Vikram
SV
Tripathi
Suryakant
S
Nagar
Amit
A
Mishra
Anupam
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult