Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Produces Long-Term Horizontal Advancement of the Maxilla and Mandible.

PURPOSE: Because limited data have been reported, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term craniofacial cephalometric skeletal changes associated with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cephalometric cohort study of craniofacial skeletal changes in patients who had undergone MMA for OSA. The primary predictor and outcome variables were time and the change in SNB over time, respectively. Digitized cephalometric radiographs were analyzed by an independent third-party cloud-based tracing software for 6 skeletal landmarks at 3 points-preoperatively, within 1 month postoperatively, and at the last follow-up evaluation. Post hoc stratification bidimensional analyses by gender and preoperative age and body mass index (BMI) were performed. Clinically significant results were determined as a greater than 2% change from baseline. Univariate and bivariate statistics were computed, and the statistical significance level was set at P < .05. RESULTS: Thirty consecutive subjects with an even gender distribution were included in the present study. The average preoperative age, apnea hypopnea index, and BMI were 43.7 years, 59.8, and 39.3 kg/m(2). The average follow-up duration was 10.7 years (range, 5.6 to 18.8). Statistically and clinically significant long-term postoperative changes were found only for SNA (+4.9 degrees or +6.0%; P < .001) and SNB (+3.8 degrees or +4.9%; P < .001). Stratification by gender and median preoperative age and BMI did not find any statistically or clinically significant results. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, MMA for OSA produced statistically and clinically significant long-term cephalometric skeletal horizontal angular advancement of the maxilla and mandible of 6 and 4.9%, respectively, independently of gender, age, or BMI.