title: Cephalometric evaluation of pharyngeal airway space changes in class III patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate pharyngeal airway space (PAS) changes in patients with skeletal Class III deformity who received different skeletal repositioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cephalometric evaluation of 45 patients with skeletal Class III deformity was performed. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: group 1 underwent bimaxillary surgery (23 patients), group 2 underwent maxillary advancement surgery (15 patients), and group 3 underwent mandibular setback surgery (7 patients). The PAS was evaluated with the cephalometric analysis of Arnett-Gunson FAB surgery and Dolphin Imaging 11 (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA) preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and at least 1 year postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients who received bimaxillary surgery, changes in the PAS in the immediate postoperative period were observed. However, long-term measurements at the oropharyngeal level returned to preoperative values. After maxillary advancement, there was an increase in the oropharynx and nasopharynx that remained long-term. In patients who underwent mandibular setback, no changes in the PAS were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients who underwent bimaxillary surgery, upper jaw advancement compensated for changes of the PAS brought about by the mandibular setback. Patients who received mandibular setback surgery showed no changes in the PAS, and those who underwent maxillary advancement showed a significant increase of the PAS and that remained stable during the evaluation period. As a consequence, maxillary advancement seems to be the most stable surgical movement in relation to airway dimensional gains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School of Araraquara, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valfrido Antônio
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Pereira-Filho
authors.forename: Lucas Martins
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Castro-Silva
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Mário Francisco Real
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Phillipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juergens
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies