Efficacy of Rapid Maxillary Expansion in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in the treatment of OSAS in children and adolescents. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched systematically: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, Embase and Cochrane Library. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese between January 2000 and December 2016, performed on children and adolescents younger than 18 years with OSAS who underwent RME, and assessing RME efficacy as measured by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) normalization were included. Qualitative assessment of the selected studies was performed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. Statistical evaluation included 2 meta-analyses and was based on a random-effects model and Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics to assess heterogeneity across the publications. Electronic searches identified 84 publications. Five publications were considered valid and included in this systematic review. RESULTS: Results from the meta-analysis show an overall reduction in AHI after RME therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Increasingly the evidence indicates that RME devices reduce AHI in children with OSAS, making RME therapy an appropriate alternative treatment option for these patients.

Condylar response to large mandibular advancement combined with maxillary impaction and counterclockwise rotation: A computed tomographic study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the evaluation of the condylar position, angulation and intercondylar distance and assess the changes in these parameters before and after bimaxillary surgery, preformed with the critical movments of Le Fort I osteotomy (for impaction of the maxilla and conterclockwise rotation of the upper occlusal plane) and Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO) for mandibular advancement (> 8mm). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty class II patients successfully treated with BSSO of the mandible, in conjunction with Le Fort I osteotomy, were studied to evaluate the condylar changes before and after surgery. The position of the condyle was classified according to the Pullinger & Hollender's formula in both phases. A MANOVA analysis followed by post-hoc tests were conducted to ascertain if there were statistically significant differences between pre and post surgical variables under study. The agreement of the condylar position's classification was evaluated resorting to the Kappa statistics. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the values of the position and angulation of the condyles and intercondylar distance before and after surgery. There was an increase of the axial angle of the left condyle and the frontal angle of both condyles, while there was a decrease of the axial angle of the right condyle, the sagittal angle of both condyles and intercondylar distance. CONCLUSIONS: The CBCT is a useful method for assessing variations of condylar position in detail. It was verified that the critical movements of maxillary impaction associated with the mandibular advancement do not produce significant alterations in the mandibular condyles, however, these tend to perform a posterior and inferior movement. Key words:Cone-Beam computed tomography, orthognathic surgery, mandibular condyle, osteotomy, le fort, temporomandibular joint.

3D virtual planning in orthognathic surgery and CAD/CAM surgical splints generation in one patient with craniofacial microsomia: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: In this case report, the feasibility and precision of tridimensional (3D) virtual planning in one patient with craniofacial microsomia is tested using Nemoceph 3D-OS software (Software Nemotec SL, Madrid, Spain) to predict postoperative outcomes on hard tissue and produce CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) surgical splints. METHODS: The clinical protocol consists of 3D data acquisition of the craniofacial complex by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and surface scanning of the plaster dental casts. The ''virtual patient'' created underwent virtual surgery and a simulation of postoperative results on hard tissues. Surgical splints were manufactured using CAD/CAM technology in order to transfer the virtual surgical plan to the operating room. Intraoperatively, both CAD/CAM and conventional surgical splints are comparable. A second set of 3D images was obtained after surgery to acquire linear measurements and compare them with measurements obtained when predicting postoperative results virtually. RESULTS: It was found a high similarity between both types of surgical splints with equal fitting on the dental arches. The linear measurements presented some discrepancies between the actual surgical outcomes and the predicted results from the 3D virtual simulation, but caution must be taken in the analysis of these results due to several variables. CONCLUSIONS: The reported case confirms the clinical feasibility of the described computer-assisted orthognathic surgical protocol. Further progress in the development of technologies for 3D image acquisition and improvements on software programs to simulate postoperative changes on soft tissue are required.

3D virtual planning in orthognathic surgery and CAD/CAM surgical splints generation in one patient with craniofacial microsomia: a case report

Objective: In this case report, the feasibility and precision of tridimensional (3D) virtual planning in one patient with craniofacial microsomia is tested using Nemoceph 3D-OS software (Software Nemotec SL, Madrid, Spain) to predict postoperative outcomes on hard tissue and produce CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) surgical splints. Methods: The clinical protocol consists of 3D data acquisition of the craniofacial complex by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and surface scanning of the plaster dental casts. The ''virtual patient'' created underwent virtual surgery and a simulation of postoperative results on hard tissues. Surgical splints were manufactured using CAD/CAM technology in order to transfer the virtual surgical plan to the operating room. Intraoperatively, both CAD/CAM and conventional surgical splints are comparable. A second set of 3D images was obtained after surgery to acquire linear measurements and compare them with measurements obtained when predicting postoperative results virtually. Results: It was found a high similarity between both types of surgical splints with equal fitting on the dental arches. The linear measurements presented some discrepancies between the actual surgical outcomes and the predicted results from the 3D virtual simulation, but caution must be taken in the analysis of these results due to several variables. Conclusions: The reported case confirms the clinical feasibility of the described computer-assisted orthognathic surgical protocol. Further progress in the development of technologies for 3D image acquisition and improvements on software programs to simulate postoperative changes on soft tissue are required.

Objetivo: neste relato de caso, de um paciente com microssomia craniofacial, testou-se a viabilidade e a precisão do planejamento virtual tridimensional (3D) utilizando o software Nemoceph 3D-OS (Software Nemotec SL, Madri, Espanha) para prever os resultados pós-operatórios em tecidos duros e produzir splints cirúrgicos CAD/CAM. Métodos: o protocolo clínico usado consistiu na aquisição de dados 3D do complexo craniofacial por meio de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) e digitalização dos modelos de gesso. O "paciente" criado virtualmente foi submetido à cirurgia virtual e obteve-se uma simulação dos resultados pós-operatórios nos tecidos duros. Os splintscirúrgicos foram confeccionados usando-se a tecnologia CAD/CAM, e permitiram que o planejamento cirúrgico virtual fosse transferido para a sala cirúrgica. No transoperatório, tanto os splints CAD/CAM quanto os splints cirúrgicos convencionais mostraram-se similares. Um segundo conjunto de imagens 3D foi obtido após a cirurgia, para que medidas lineares pudessem ser obtidas e comparadas com as medidas feitas na simulação virtual dos resultados pós-operatórios. Resultados: foi encontrada uma forte semelhança entre os dois tipos desplints cirúrgicos, que se adaptaram da mesma forma nas arcadas dentárias. As medidas lineares mostraram algumas discrepâncias entre os resultados cirúrgicos reais e os resultados previstos na simulação virtual 3D; porém, a análise desses resultados requer cautela, em virtude da presença de inúmeras variáveis que podem neles interferir. Conclusões: o caso relatado no presente estudo confirma a viabilidade clínica do protocolo descrito de cirúrgica ortognática assistida por computador. Porém, ainda se faz necessária uma maior evolução no desenvolvimento de tecnologias para a aquisição de imagens 3D e nos softwares que simulam as alterações pós-operatórias nos tecidos moles.