Skeletal Advancement for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children
Authors: Bell R. Bryan , Turvey Timothy A. 
Published: October 2018

Objective

Maxillomandibular advancement is curative for some adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Little is known, however, about the efficacy of this treatment in children. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to assess the clinical outcomes of children with medically refractory OSA who were treated with a variety of procedures to advance the maxillofacial skeleton.

Methods

The records of eight children with OSA (five boys and three girls; mean age, 8.6 years; range, 2 to 17 years) were reviewed. Six children had identifiable syndromes associated with micrognathia, one child had mandibular ankylosis, and one child was nonsyndromic. In five of the children, conventional medical and surgical treatment of OSA had failed; therefore, these children were considered tracheostomy candidates. The remaining three children had had tracheostomies placed in infancy. Specific signs and symptoms with regard to each patient's OSA were identified and recorded. Bronchoscopy was performed preoperatively to evaluate the airway and localize the site of obstruction and again postoperatively if the patient's signs and symptoms recurred. Oxygen saturation and sleep patterns were monitored overnight in the five patients without tracheostomies, revealing a mean apnea index of 25.3 (range, 2.0 to 60.0) and mean lowest desaturation of 73% (range, 62% to 77%). All patients underwent a variety of skeletal procedures to advance the mandible, maxilla, and/or chin.

Outcome Measures

Criteria for success after treatment were twofold: (1) decannulation and (2) cessation or improvement in symptoms facilitating avoidance of tracheostomy. Criteria for failure, likewise, were (1) inability to decannulate and (2) recurrence or nonimprovement in symptoms necessitating tracheostomy.

Results

To date, with a mean follow-up time of 7.2 years (range, 19 months to 19 years), the treatment of four of the eight children in our population can be considered a success. Two of the three children with previously placed tracheostomies were able to be decannulated within days of surgery and experienced no further signs or symptoms of OSA. Two other children experienced complete cessation of clinical signs and symptoms and elimination of previous oxygen requirements. Of the four patients in whom treatment failed, three had transient improvement (mean, 6 months) and, despite skeletal stability, eventually experienced relapse of symptoms: one patient with Down syndrome and tracheobronchomalacia required subsequent tracheostomy; the second had a central obstructive component and underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for treatment of a Chiara I malformation; and the third experienced relapse of symptoms due to lack of mandibular growth. The fourth child could not be decannulated because of accompanying tracheal and laryngeal malacia.

Conclusions

Skeletal advancement can be an effective treatment for medically refractory OSA in children. Success, however, is dependent not only on skeletal position but also on neuromuscular adaptation. Bronchoscopy is the most valuable diagnostic and predictive tool.