title: A retrospective cephalometric study on pharyngeal airway space changes after rapid palatal expansion and Herbst appliance with or without skeletal anchorage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the pharyngeal airway space changes in patients treated with rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and Herbst appliance with or without skeletal anchorage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 40-patient study group treated with the Herbst RME combination was included; moreover, a comparison between two subgroups based on whether miniscrews were used was evaluated. A subgroup 1 included 20 patients who were treated with RPE and an acrylic splint Herbst with miniscrews, and subgroup 2 included 20 patients who were treated with RPE and an acrylic splint Herbst. A cephalometric analysis was performed before (T1) and after (T2) treatment. The skeletal parameters of the sagittal occlusion analysis of Pancherz were utilized together with some extra measurements to evaluate the airways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increased nasopharyngeal airway space was observed in group 1 (p < 0.05) from T1 to T2. Furthermore, the increase in nasopharyngeal airway space was significantly higher in subgroup 1 (p < 0.05) in comparison to the subgroup 2. Oropharyngeal (OA) and laryngopharyngeal (LA) dimensions were significantly increased in the subgroup 1 at the end of the treatment. In the subgroup 1, a significant decrease in SNA, a significant increase in SNB, and a significant decrease in ANB were observed from T1 to T2. In the subgroup 2, the treatment resulted in a significant decrease in ANB. In both groups, Pogonion increased significantly from T1 to T2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the RPE and the Herbst appliance allow a slight improvement of the sagittal dimensions of the airways. The oropharyngeal dimension increased significantly more in the skeletal anchorage group.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Racale, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of the Critic Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. dr.marcopasini@yahoo.it.|, Viale Roma 213, Massa, Massa-Carrara, 54100, Italy. dr.marcopasini@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1430-7535
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of the Critic Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Transplants and New Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morganti
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, La Spezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cozzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000628:therapy; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D009295:Nasal Bone; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D010159:Palate; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Airway space; Class II treatment; Skeletal anchorage