title: Evaluation of upper airways after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in patients with skeletal Class III pattern using cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that mandibular setback surgery, combined or not with maxillary advancement as a treatment alternative for patients with mandibular prognathism, can induce changes in upper airway space (UAS). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the response of the upper airway in the oropharynx region of patients with Class III skeletal pattern that underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (maxillary advancement and mandibular setback) combined with mentoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 26 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 13 patients. The examination was taken before and after surgery. UAS volume, sagittal area, length and minimal axial area with its width, depth and location, were measured with the aid of Dolphin Imaging™ software version 11.5 Premium. Data were statistically treated by applying Shapiro-Wilk test and Student's paired t-test, considering as statistically significant the results of which p-value was lower than 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found in any measurements evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant changes were observed in the oropharynx after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery and mentoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Spínola
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Azevêdo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andre Wilson
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Inêssa da Silva
authors.initials: Ida S
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma University, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Lucas Senhorinho
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Álvares Castro
authors.initials: VÁ
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Alan Vieira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D057909:Orthognathic Surgery; D010614:Pharynx