Advancements in Tongue Suspension Suture Techniques for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Step-by-Step Guide

Background and Objectives Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multifactorial disease that affects the velopharynx, oropharyngeal lateral wall, tongue, and epiglottis. Tongue collapse is difficult to identify precisely, and treatment outcomes are inconsistent. Therefore, we describe here advancements in tongue suspension suture techniques, which is a safe and effective method for managing OSA patients who have obstruction in the tongue area.Subjects and Method A 28-year-old female presented to our otorhinolaryngology clinic with snoring and sleep apnea. Her tonsil size was II/II and her body mass index was 30.94 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The apnea-hypopnea index was 69.9 and the lowest O<sub>2</sub> saturation was 84%. We performed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tongue base traction using the advancements in tongue suspension suture techniques.Results At the 1- and 3-month postoperative follow-up visits, the patient reported subjective improvement in sleep and quality of life, with no adverse events.Conclusion Advancements in tongue suspension suture techniques may offer a viable option for improving tongue base obstruction in OSA patients.