title: Effect of mono- and bimaxillary advancement on pharyngeal airway volume: cone-beam computed tomography evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pharyngeal airway volume changes after forward movements of the maxilla or mandible, or both, using cone-beam computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation of 30 patients who underwent maxillomandibular advancement, maxillary advancement, or mandibular advancement was performed. Three groups of 10 subjects each were established: group 1, bimaxillary surgery (Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy and mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy with maxillomandibular advancement); group 2, maxillary advancement (Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy); and group 3, mandibular advancement (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy). Pre- and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography scans were taken in each case, and the changes in pharyngeal airway volume were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant increase in the pharyngeal airway volume occurred systematically. The average percentage of increase was 69.8% in group 1 and 78.3% in group 3. Group 2 exhibited a lower magnitude of increase (37.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cone-beam computed tomography provides a new method for airway evaluation using a noninvasive, rapid, low-radiation, cost-effective scan. It seems the influence of mandibular advancement on the pharyngeal airway volume is greater than the effect of the forward movement of the maxilla.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hernández-Alfaro
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guijarro-Martínez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mareque-Bueno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000379:methods; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies