Virtual Guided and Customized Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Accuracy and Clinical Outcomes

<b>Background:</b> This preliminary case series aimed to evaluate the clinical and morphometric outcomes of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using virtual surgical planning (VSP), patient-specific cutting guides, and customized titanium plates. Primary outcomes included changes in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), airway dimensions, surgical accuracy, and quality of life. <b>Methods</b>: In this preliminary case series, six patients with severe OSA underwent MMA surgery planned using three-dimensional VSP, and executed with the aid of CAD-/CAM-generated surgical guides and patient-specific osteosynthesis. Clinical variables included AHI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and computed tomography-based airway morphometry. Surgical accuracy was assessed by comparing planned and achieved skeletal movements. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Spearman's correlation. <b>Results</b>: The mean preoperative AHI decreased significantly from 48.8 ± 23.6 to 12.4 ± 10.0 (<i>p</i> = 0.035), and ESS scores improved from 14.5 ± 4.6 to 7.8 ± 2.1 (<i>p</i> = 0.029). Mean airway area increased significantly from 51.8 ± 9.0 mm<sup>2</sup> to 91.8 ± 26.6 mm<sup>2</sup> (<i>p</i> = 0.035). A strong but non-significant correlation was observed between airway gain and ESS improvement (<i>p</i> = 0.754, <i>p</i> = 0.084). No patients required CPAP at 6-month follow-up, and all were asymptomatic. The anteroposterior accuracy of skeletal movements was high: 82.6% for the maxilla and 85.8% for the pogonion, with mean absolute errors of 1.25 mm and 1.95 mm, respectively. Vertical accuracy was lower, particularly in the chin region, where error analysis showed greater variability. No statistically significant differences were found between planned and achieved movements in any vector. <b>Conclusions</b>: MMA surgery performed with VSP, cutting guides, and customized titanium plates offers a highly effective, safe, and precise treatment modality for selected OSA patients. This approach leads to a significant reduction in AHI, expansion of the upper airway, and improvement in patient-reported daytime functioning. High accuracy in skeletal repositioning-particularly in anteroposterior vectors-supports the reliability and reproducibility of digitally guided orthognathic surgery. These findings reinforce the role of technologically assisted MMA as a definitive treatment for severe OSA.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-05-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113780
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
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article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.82
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article

Virtual Guided and Customized Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Accuracy and Clinical Outcomes

José Luis del Castillo Pardo de Vera, Giovanni Dell’Aversana Orabona, Farzin Falahat, Ignacio Navarro Cuéllar et al.
5 citations
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
5.82
article

Virtual Guided and Customized Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Accuracy and Clinical Outcomes

José Luis del Castillo Pardo de Vera, Giovanni Dell’Aversana Orabona, Farzin Falahat, Ignacio Navarro Cuéllar, Pablo Montes Fernández-Micheltorena, N. Bravo Quelle, José Luis Cebrián Carretero, Carlos Navarro Cuéllar, Manuel Tousidonis, Ana María López López, Saad Khayat, Marta Benito Anguita, José Zamorano León, Soledad López Martín
article en
5 citations

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> This preliminary case series aimed to evaluate the clinical and morphometric outcomes of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using virtual surgical planning (VSP), patient-specific cutting guides, and customized titanium plates. Primary outcomes included changes in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), airway dimensions, surgical accuracy, and quality of life. <b>Methods</b>: In this preliminary case series, six patients with severe OSA underwent MMA surgery planned using three-dimensional VSP, and executed with the aid of CAD-/CAM-generated surgical guides and patient-specific osteosynthesis. Clinical variables included AHI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and computed tomography-based airway morphometry. Surgical accuracy was assessed by comparing planned and achieved skeletal movements. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Spearman's correlation. <b>Results</b>: The mean preoperative AHI decreased significantly from 48.8 ± 23.6 to 12.4 ± 10.0 (<i>p</i> = 0.035), and ESS scores improved from 14.5 ± 4.6 to 7.8 ± 2.1 (<i>p</i> = 0.029). Mean airway area increased significantly from 51.8 ± 9.0 mm<sup>2</sup> to 91.8 ± 26.6 mm<sup>2</sup> (<i>p</i> = 0.035). A strong but non-significant correlation was observed between airway gain and ESS improvement (<i>p</i> = 0.754, <i>p</i> = 0.084). No patients required CPAP at 6-month follow-up, and all were asymptomatic. The anteroposterior accuracy of skeletal movements was high: 82.6% for the maxilla and 85.8% for the pogonion, with mean absolute errors of 1.25 mm and 1.95 mm, respectively. Vertical accuracy was lower, particularly in the chin region, where error analysis showed greater variability. No statistically significant differences were found between planned and achieved movements in any vector. <b>Conclusions</b>: MMA surgery performed with VSP, cutting guides, and customized titanium plates offers a highly effective, safe, and precise treatment modality for selected OSA patients. This approach leads to a significant reduction in AHI, expansion of the upper airway, and improvement in patient-reported daytime functioning. High accuracy in skeletal repositioning-particularly in anteroposterior vectors-supports the reliability and reproducibility of digitally guided orthognathic surgery. These findings reinforce the role of technologically assisted MMA as a definitive treatment for severe OSA.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(11)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES), Hospital Universitario La Paz (ES), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES), Hospital Clínico San Carlos (ES), Hospital San Pedro (ES)
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
5.82
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