3D Study Of The Hyoid And Airway Characters In Adult Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip And Palate Patients

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to measure the upper airways dimensions, hyoid position and hyoid shape in adult unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients by using cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT). We evaluated the correlation between upper airway and hyoid to provide help for clinical treatment. MethodsThirty-eight samples of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients were selected from Tianjin stomatological hospital as study group from January 2008 to October 2015. Thirty-eight samples of individual normal occlusion as the control group and thirty-eight samples of skeletal class III malocclusion as the class III group were selected.All imagery were collected by CBCT. The software Mimics 17.0 was used to do the 3D model reconstruction and to acquire the measurements for the hyoid and upper airway. The software SPSS13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results1 There were statistically significant differences among Hu-SH、Hd-SH、Hl-SH、Hg-SH、Hu-C3、Hd-C3、H、Hl-Hl’、Hg-Hg’、Hl-Hg、Hl’-Hg’、 H’-SH in females and males of individual normal occlusion. The index of males was larger than that of females’.The index of Hu-CP、Hd-CP、Hl-CP、Hg-CP had no statistical differences, but the men’s had a tendency to increase.2 There were statistically significant differences among Hu-SH、Hd-SH、Hl-SH、Hg-SH、Hu-C3、Hd-C3 between the study group and the control group. The index of Hu-CP、Hd-CP、Hl-CP、Hg-CP、H、Hl-Hl’、Hg-Hg’、Hl-Hg、Hl’-Hg’、 H’-SH had no statistical differences.H’-SH of men had a tendency to increase.3 There were statistically significant differences among Hu-SH、Hd-SH、Hl-SH、Hg-SH、Hu-C3、Hd-C3、Hu-CP、Hd-CP、Hl-CP、Hg-CP、H’-SH between the study group and the class III group. The index of H、Hl-Hl’、Hg-Hg’、Hl-Hg、Hl’-Hg’ had no statistical differences.4 There were statistically significant differences among H1、V1 of velopharyngeal section, H2、L2、S2、V2 of tonguepharyngeal section, H3 of laryngopharyngeal section and whole airway volume in females and males of individual normal occlusion. The index of males was larger than that of females’.5 There were statistically significant differences among H1,L1,S1,V1 of velopharyngeal section between the study group and the control group. The whole airway volume was significantly smaller than that of the control group. The rest of the index had no statistical difference.6 There were statistically significant differences among H1、V1 of nasopharyngeal section in males, S1、V1 of velopharyngeal section in females, L2、S2、V2 of tonguepharyngeal section, L3、S3 of laryngopharyngeal section between the study group and the class III group. The whole airway volume was significantly smaller than that of the class III group.7 The index of V1、L2、S2、V2 and V was correlated with the horizontal index of hyoid in the control group. The index of H1、H2、H3 and V was correlated with the vertical index of hyoid in the control group.The result of the study group was consistent with the control group except the index of H1. Conclusions1 The hyoid position and shape had gender differences.The hyoid bone of men was more inferior and anterior. The axial inclination and each component of the hyoid in males were larger than that in females.2 The hyoid bone of the study group was inferior and posterior when compared to the control group. Comparing with the class III group, the hyoid position was significantly lower and more posterior. The axial inclination of hyoid was larger.3 The upper airway of individual normal occlusion had gender differences. Men have larger height of each section than women. The Oropharyngeal airway in male was wider than that in female.4 Adult unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients had smaller velopharyngeal, tonguepharyngeal, laryngopharyngeal and total airway volumes when compared with the control group. The height of tonguepharyngeal was slightly larger than that of control group.The minimal sagittal diameter and the narrowest cross-sectional area of the tonguepharyngeal was slightly smaller than that of the control group. Comparing with the class III group, the tonguepharyngeal, laryngopharyngeal and total airway volumes of the study group were significantly smaller.5 The horizontal index of hyoid was correlated with the minimal sagittal diameter, the narrowest cross-sectional area of the tonguepharyngeal section, the volume of each section and total airway volume. The vertical index of hyoid was correlated with the height of each section and the total airway volume.