Pharyngeal Airway and Soft Tissue Transformations Post-Bimaxillary Surgery: A CBCT Study

This study evaluated the long-term effects of bimaxillary surgery on the upper airway and posterior soft tissues in Class III malocclusion patients. Fifty female patients with mandibular prognathism underwent LeFort I advancement and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. All had STOP-BANG scores below two. CBCT scans before surgery and five years post-surgery were analyzed. Results showed a significant increase in nasopharyngeal volume and decreases in hypopharyngeal and upper airway volumes. The tongue shifted backward but STOP-BANG scores remained stable. Overall, the surgery reduced airway volumes without increasing the risk of OSA.