Changes in pharyngeal airway space and soft tissue after maxillary advancement and bimaxillary surgery

Aim: To evaluate changes in pharyngeal airway space (nasopharynx and oropharynx), soft palate and lingual vallecula after maxillary advancement surgery and maxillary advancement and mandibular setback surgery (bimaxillary surgery). Methods: Twenty Class III adult patients were included in the study. Ten patients were treated with maxillary advancement and ten with bimaxillary surgery (maxillary advancement and mandibular setback). Cephalometric landmark measurements were recorded at 3 different time intervals: pre-surgical, post-surgical and six months after surgery. Data collected were subjected to one-way ANOVA (p<0.05). Results: Nasopharyngeal airway space increased after maxillary advancement and decreased after bimaxillary surgery. There was increase in oropharyngeal dimensions in the region around the uvula and loss of space for lingual vallecula, while in Group 2 there was diminished space for both uvula and vallecula. The uvula and vallecula were moved forward in Group 1, whereas these structures were moved in the posterior direction in Group 2. Conclusions: After maxillary advancement surgery there was an increased in space in the nasopharyngeal region. The oropharyngeal region related to the uvula presented an increase in space, whereas there was a reduction in relation to the lingual vallecula. The uvula and lingual vallecula were moved forward. Bimaxillary surgery promoted a reduction in the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal regions as regards both the uvula and lingual vallecula. The uvula and lingual vallecula were moved in the posterior direction.