Surgery for class III malocclusions pharyngeal airway and sleep apnoea effects
Reviewed by Stuart Clark

Thirty-three patients from Brazil were assessed for obstructive sleep apnoea and hypopnoea syndrome pre- and six months postoperatively. The 33 patients were made up of nine having mandibular set back surgery, six maxillary advancement and 18 bi-maxillary surgery. They identified that those who underwent mandibular set back surgery alone demonstrated a volume reduction of the pharyngeal airway space, although this was not accompanied by signs or symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea. The results are predictable but significantly hampered by the small numbers and the subsequent variables of extent of movement, age, BMI and the long-term effects.

Effects of surgical correction of class III malocclusion on pharyngeal airway and its influence on sleep apnoea.
Canellas JV, Dos S, Barros HOM, et al.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
2016;45(12):1508-12.