title: Relationships between Malocclusion, Body Posture, and Nasopharyngeal Pathology in Pre-Orthodontic Children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malocclusion, body posture, and breathing pattern may be correlated, but this issue is still controversial. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the type of malocclusion, body posture, and nasopharyngeal obstruction in children aged 7-14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 94 patients aged 7-14 years (mean±SD: 11.9±2.1 years); 44 (46.8%) males and 50 (53.2%) females. All patients passed an examination performed by the same orthodontist (study model and cephalometric radiograph analysis), orthopedic surgeon (body posture examined from the front, side, and back), and otorhinolaryngologist (anterior and posterior rhinoscopy and pharyngoscopy) in a blind manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postural disorders were observed in 72 (76.6%) patients. Hypertrophy of the adenoids was diagnosed in 54 (57.4%) patients, hypertrophy of the tonsils in 85 (90.3%), nasal septum deviation in 51 (54.3%), and allergic rhinitis in 19 (20.2%) patients. There was a statistically significant correlation between presence of kyphotic posture and a reduction in the SNB angle, representing sagittal position of the mandible. Also, there was a statistically significant association between kyphotic posture and nasopharyngeal obstruction (54.1% of patients with nasopharyngeal obstruction were kyphotic, compared with 25% of patients with no nasopharyngeal obstruction; p=0.02). Kyphotic posture and reduced SNB angle were more common among males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that: 1) there was a significant association between the sagittal position of the mandible (SNB angle) and a kyphotic posture; 2) kyphotic posture was significantly more common among patients with nasopharyngeal obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šidlauskienė
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smailienė
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lopatienė
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Traumatology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Emilis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Čekanauskas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Rūta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pribuišienė
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Mantas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šidlauskas
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000473:pathology; D009302:Nasopharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric