Changes in position of the hyoid bone and volume of the pharyngeal airway after mandibular setback: three-dimensional analysis

Important aspects of orthognathic surgery are the effects of skeletal movement and changes in the position of the hyoid bone, tongue, soft palate, and dimensions of the pharyngeal airway. Our aims were to evaluate the 3-dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway and in the position of the hyoid bone after mandibular setback in 30 patients who were diagnosed with mandibular prognathism and were treated by intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). Three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographic (CT) images were obtained preoperatively, one month postoperatively, and one year postoperatively. The total pharyngeal volume decreased between the preoperative state and one month and one year afterwards. The hyoid bone had moved 2.0 mm posteriorly and 3.15 mm superiorly by one month postoperatively. The position of the hyoid bone was affected by changes in posterior and superior movement of the B point at one month (r = 0.44, p = 0.015 and R = 0.63, p = 0.000, respectively) and also by superior movement of the B point at one year (r = 0.57, p = −0.001). There was an advantageous relation between posterior positional changes in the B point (mandibular setback), and volumetric changes in the hypopharyngeal and total pharyngeal airway, so maxillofacial surgeons should consider the reduction in airway when planning excessive mandibular setback.