Hyoid Suspension With UPPP for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This retrospective evaluation of surgical outcomes for hyomandibular suspension when performed with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Thirty-nine patients with moderate-to-severe OSA were treated with hyoid myotomy and suspension and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Patients underwent hyoid advancement and suspension to the mandible (Encore System) with either staged or concurrent UPPP. The primary outcome was a successful surgical result, defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) lower than 20, and a 50% or greater decline in AHI on postoperative polysomnography. Successful surgical results were achieved in 30 (76.9%) out of 39 patients. The mean preoperative AHI improved 69.2% from 49.9 ± 25.6 to 15.4 ± 14.9 ( P < .001) postoperatively. All patients reported clinical improvement of symptoms. There were 4 wound complications and one infection requiring removal of hardware. For patients with multilevel obstructive sleep apnea, hyoid advancement and suspension to the mandible appears efficacious when performed in conjunction with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Polysomnographic Outcomes Before and After Skeletal Surgeries for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective: To evaluate polysomnographic (PSG) outcomes after common skeletal surgeries for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Thai patients. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study included OSA patients aged 18 years and older treated by hyoid suspension (HS) plus uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) (Group 1), genioglossus advancement (GA) plus tongue base radiofrequency (TBRF) (Group 2), and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) (Group 3) at Siriraj Hospital between January 2007 and October 2018. Those with incomplete PSG data were excluded. The primary outcome was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Secondary outcomes were other PSG parameters and postoperative complications. Results: Twenty-four patients including 22 males and 2 females were included. Group1 (n=11), median AHI decreased from 45.4 to 24.1 events/hour (p=0.17), while lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) changed from 72.0% to 71.0% (p=0.11). Group2 (n=3) median AHI decreased from 64.7 to 51.4 events/hour (p=0.11), LSAT increased from 76.0% to 79.0% (p=1.0), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep increased from 0.0% to 12.4% (p=0.11). Group3 (n=12) median AHI decreased from 68.5 to 7.8 events/hour (p<0.002), LSAT increased from 75.5% to 88.0% (p=0.04), and REM increased from 0.0% to 21.5% (p=0.01). Surgical success rates as defined by Sher’s criteria or a postoperative AHI of less than five events/hour were 44.4%, 33.3%, and 66.6% in patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Common surgical complications included bleeding, mental or perioral paresthesia, and malocclusion after MMA. Conclusion: The skeletal surgeries significantly improved some PSG parameters, and thus may be viable options for OSA treatment in Thai patients. Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, Skeletal surgery, Hyoid suspension, Genioglossus advancement, Maxillomandibular advancement, Thai

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and barbed reposition pharyngoplasty with and without hyoid suspension for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: A comparison of long-term functional results

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common condition; when conservative approaches are not effective, surgical techniques aimed at reducing the airway obstruction effect are used. This retrospective study aimed at comparing the functional outcomes in patients with OSAHS undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) according to Fairbanks and barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) according to Mantovani, with or without hyoid suspension (HS). One-hundred twenty-two consecutive OSAHS patients who underwent surgical treatment were included in the study. Patients were divided into 4 groups; all patients underwent preoperative and postoperative polysomnography (PSG) with apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) evaluation, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) evaluation. The results were analyzed according to the different surgical procedures, in relation to the preoperative PSG and anthropometric data. A significant reduction was observed at 18-month follow-up for patients in BRP group for BMI (p = 0.004), ESS (p < 0.0001), ODI (p < 0.0001), and AHI (p < 0.0001). Risk factors for poor postoperative AHI reduction were evaluated; preoperative AHI was the strongest independent protective factor, while preoperative ODI was the strongest risk factor. The association of HS with UPPP or BRP showed significant results in terms of higher postoperative AHI reduction only when associated to UPPP (p < 0.0001). This study showed that the BRP technique was more effective compared to UPPP for patients with OSAHS. The association of HS showed greater benefits in UPPP compared to BRP. Randomized prospective trials with longer follow-up are necessary to confirm our results and formulate a more accurate indication of the optimal therapeutic strategy.

Redefining the Neck: A Retrospective Review Utilizing Hyoid Suspension

Neck contouring is one of the most frequent reasons patients seek cervicofacial rhytidectomy. But what makes for aesthetically pleasing youthful neck? Ellenbogen and Karlin described 5 criteria in their 1980 landmark publication, including having a cervicomental angle between 105° and 120° and a visible subhyoid depression. Recent advances in neck anatomy have revealed the existence of ligamentous like structures attaching the skin and platysma to the hyoid. These have been termed the hyoplatysmal ligament (HPL) and cervicomental suspensory angle ligament by different authors. This study was undertaken to determine whether surgically reestablishing the above structures utilizing a hyoid suspension technique resulted in statistically significant changes in cervicomental contour. A retrospective chart review was performed from January 2014 to present. After December 2016, the second author began utilizing a hyoid suspension technique where the inter- and subplatysmal fat was resected and the HPL was reestablished surgically (hyoid suspension). Cases before this date served as controls if a similar neck manipulation was performed without reestablishing the HPL. In total, 104 charts were queried, of which, 21 charts fit inclusion criteria to serve as controls and 20 as the experimental group. Before and after profile pictures were then compared for differences in cervicomental angle utilizing commercially available imaging software (Canfield Mirror, Parsippany, New Jersey). An unpaired Student t test was then performed to determine whether this 2 groups differed significantly utilizing a P value of .05 to denote statistical significance. The mean difference between pre- and postoperative cervicomental angle for the control group was 17.38° with a standard deviation of 8.05°. The mean difference between pre and postoperative cervicomental angle for the experimental group was 28.75° with a standard deviation of 15.52°. The resulting 11.37° difference in cervicomental angle between the 2 groups was found to be statistically significant with a P value of .0051. Our cosmetic surgical and anatomical knowledge continues to progress. Brant first described a ligamentous structure that attaches the platysma to the hyoid. Through biomechanical testing, he noted this ligament to be one of the weakest in the face and neck. Thereafter, in 2016 Yousif et al and Le Lourn separately described similar procedures to attach the platysma to the hyoid, in effect reestablishing this ligament. Utilizing one simple surgical maneuver, the hyoid suspension reestablishes the HPL. This surgically creates an acute cervicomental angle, resulting in less platysmal displacement postoperatively, with virtually no addition to surgical time or morbidity.

Hyoid Bone Suspension as a Part of Multilevel Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Introduction Since oropharyngeal surgery alone is often insufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), advances have been developed in hypopharyngeal surgery. Objective To assess hyoid suspension surgery as part of a multilevel OSA surgery, also including palatal surgery. Methods The study included patients with OSA symptoms with apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 15. They were scheduled for hyoid suspension after a nasoendoscopy during Müller maneuver and drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). All patients had body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2. Hyoidothyroidopexy combined with tonsillectomy and palatal suspension was performed in all cases. Results The mean AHI dropped significantly (p < 0.0001) from 68.4 ± 25.3 preoperatively to 25.6 ± 9.52 postoperatively. The mean lowest oxygen (O2) saturation level increased significantly from 66.8 ± 11.3 to 83.2 ± 2.86 (p < 0.0001). In addition, the snoring score significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) from a preoperative mean of 3.4 ± 0.54 to 2 ± 0.7 at 6 months postoperatively. In regard to the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), it showed significant improvements (p < 0.0001) as its mean diminished from 13.8 ± 5.4 preoperatively to 5.2 ± 1.6 postoperatively. Conclusion Hyoidothyroidopexy using absorbable suture seems to produce a good outcome in treating OSA. It could be effectively and safely combined with other palatal procedures in the multilevel surgery for OSA.