title: Impact of different surgery modalities to correct class III jaw deformities on the pharyngeal airway space.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to compare the outcome of different modalities of orthognathic surgery to correct class III jaw deformities concerning the pharyngeal airway space, especially in patients with other predisposing factors for the development of obstructive sleep apnea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lateral cephalograms of 30 Japanese patients (12 males and 18 females, 24.4 [SD, 6.8] years), who underwent surgical-orthodontic treatment for class III jaw deformities, were obtained. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A included patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy; group B patients underwent bimaxillary surgery, and group C patients underwent intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. Lateral cephalograms were assessed before surgery and around 3 months and 1 year after surgery. The paired t-test was used to compare the groups, and P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups A and C who underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy, respectively, the pharyngeal airway was constricted significantly at the 3 levels of the pharyngeal airway space on short- and long-term follow-up, whereas in group B, who underwent bimaxillary surgery, no significant changes were noted on long-term follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bimaxillary surgery rather than only mandibular setback surgery is preferable to correct class III jaw deformity to prevent narrowing of the pharyngeal airway, which might be a predisposing factor in the development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. tarekftohy2@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tarek Elsayed Ftohy
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Katsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Kamal M H
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsuity
authors.forename: Hazem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessho
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult