Pharyngeal airway space, hyoid bone position, and head posture after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in Class III patients: long-term evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the effect of bimaxillary orthognathic surgery on pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone, and craniocervical posture in Class III bimaxillary surgery patients. (2) To evaluate short-term and long-term results. (3) To compare short- and long-term values.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six Class III adult patients treated with bimaxillary surgery were included in the study. Cephalometric records were taken before treatment (T1), before surgery (T2), and 5 months (T3), 1.4 years (T4), 3 years (T5), and 5 years (T6) postsurgery.

RESULTS: No significant differences were identified in craniocervical angulation between time intervals. There was a significant superior movement of hyoid bone at postsurgery (T3; P < .05); however, adaptation occurred to the normal position in the long term. A nonsignificant decrease occurred at the oropharyngeal middle pharyngeal distance parameter; however, this was compensated with a significant increase between T5 and T6 (P < .001). A significant decrease was observed in the hypopharyngeal Go-P parameter between T3 and T1 (P < .01), but it recovered with a nonsignificant increase in the long term. A significant increase in nasopharyngeal area was observed between T3 and T1 (P < .05). The hypopharyngeal area significantly increased between T5 and T6, and PNS-R significantly increased between T3 and T1 (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: The pharyngeal areas adversely affected after surgery recover at long-term follow-up; thus, adaptation occurs after bimaxillary surgery.