Craniofacial modifications in Ivorian melanoderm children with chronic retronasal obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of the chronic retro nasal airway obstruction on craniofacial morphology.


METHODS
It was a case-control study which included fifty-eight melanoderm children aged from 3 to 6 years (31 males and 27 females), divided in 2 samples. A studied group of 29 habitual snorers presenting chronic retro nasal obstruction due to enlarged adenoid and a control group of 29 age matched children selected among patients consulting for routine evaluation. Patients who had used topical or systemic medication for the nose, as well as those who had undergone adenoidectomy were excluded from the study. Children were submitted to history taking then ENT and orthodontic examination. Linear and angular cephalometric measurements were used for craniofacial features evaluation.


RESULTS
Significant craniofacial anomalies were found in patients presenting chronic retro nasal obstruction: shortened cranial base and mandibular plane length, widened cranio-cervical flexure, forwardness of hyoid bone, reduced nasopharyngeal airway space, widened of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway space.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that craniofacial modifications due to chronic retro nasal obstruction lead to pharyngeal airway readjustment. Persistent retro nasal obstruction should be corrected early in life in order to avoid skeletal modifications appearance.
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Electronic address: anohjose@ymail.com.
Marie-Josée
MJ
Tanon-Anoh
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Yao Mathurin
YM
Kouassi
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Moussa
M
Yoda
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Esther K
EK
Badou
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Nidam
N
Hoballah
RFU of Odonto-Stomatology, Department of Dento-Facial Orthopedic, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Beugré
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Roger
R
N'gbesso
Yopougon University Hospital, Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Bertin
B
Kouassi
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012886:Skull / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
Chronic retronasal obstruction; Craniofacial modifications; Melanoderm children