Comparison of the effects of mandibular protruding devices on obstructive sleep apnoea patients and healthy volunteers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate upper airway diameter differences before and after placement of custom made mandible protruding devices (MPD) in OSAS group and to compare with control group using computerized tomography.

METHODS

The OSAS group was composed of 15 patients aged from 25 to 45 years with mild-moderate OSAS and the control group included 15 healthy volunteers, aged from 25 years to 44 years. On coronal and sagittal reformated CT images, anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) diameters at three levels (passing through soft palate [level 1], 5 mm above uvula [level 2] and 1 cm above the tip of epiglottis [level 3]) were measured before and after MPD placement in both groups.

RESULTS

LAT diameters at level 1, level 2 and AP diameter at level 2 in OSAS group were significantly lower than in control group before MPD placement. Only LAT diameters at level 2 in OSAS group were significantly lower than in control group after MPD placement. When we compared upper airway diameters before and after placement of the MPD within each group, statistically significant increase in diameters at all levels were observed.

CONCLUSION

MPD is a cheap, easily usable device providing increase in upper airway diameters.