Does Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Negatively Affects Facial Appearance?

Basem T Jamal^*

^*Correspondence: Basem T Jamal, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Email:

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Introduction

The term obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) refers to a sleep disorder in which there are episodes of partial (hypopnea) or complete (apnea) reductions in breathing while asleep. The incidence of OSA in men ranges from 2 to 4% [1,2], among women from 1 to 2% [3], and in adults from 5 to 25% [4,5]. Several adverse health effects are associated with OSA in adults, including cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine complications. Untreated disease can have a significant impact on one's overall health and quality of life over the long term [6].

One of the surgeries proposed to treat obstructive sleep apnea is maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). It results in a widening of the posterior airway by stretching the oropharyngeal soft tissues and MMA achieves that via advancement of the facial skeleton [7]. MMA has a success rate of 85-95% [8]. With such large advancements, facial esthetics will change and patients' demographics and backgrounds can influence whether these changes are advantageous or unfavorable [9].

In the present study, the aim is to examine the rate of satisfaction with facial aesthetics after an intervention with MMA.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective analysis of the records of patients who undergo MMA by the author was reviewed. The parameters assessed included age, medical history, preoperative apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), jaw skeletal classification, and satisfaction with facial esthetics. All patients underwent MMA with an advancement of the maxilla ranging from 8-10mm with a counter-clockwise rotation to further expand the airway, the mandible following the maxilla while keeping the patient occlusion and a genioglossus advancement ranging from 8-10mm. the patients had a brief ICU stay ranging from 1-2 days followed by observation at the regular floor before discharge.

Table 1 shows the patient information. Figure 1 shows panoramic x-rays before and after MMA. Figure 2 shows cephalometric x-rays before and after MMA illustrating the change in airway volume following the procedure.

Table 1: Summary of patients AHI and facial appearance satisfaction.

Figure 1: Panoramic X-ray (A) Pre- and (B) Post-operative following MMA.

Figure 2: Cephalometric X-ray (A) pre- and (B) post-operative following MMA demonstrating change in pharyngeal airway volume.

Results

Six patients’ records were reviewed. All patients were males and the average ago was 42. All patients had severe obstructive sleep apnea with a mean AHI of 58.6. Five of the patients underwent MMA as the first line of treatment for their OSA. One of the patients had phase 1 treatment in the form of genioglossus advancement but with persistent symptoms, MMA was later performed.

Two of the patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) performed prior to the surgery as a result of uncontrolled hypertension. One patient had hypertension and the remaining patients were otherwise healthy except for the symptoms associated with severe OSA ranging from excessive daytime fatigue, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and marital discord. 2 of the patients had a jaw class II skeletal classification with protrusive maxilla preoperatively and were at higher risk of having unfavorable facial esthetic results postoperatively.

All patients reported improvement in their OSA symptoms postoperatively. Four of the patients were satisfied with the change in their facial appearance postoperatively and the two class II patients were indifferent about the change. They did not report dissatisfaction or concern about the change and all patients indicated they would recommend this surgery to other patients.

Discussion

MMA is designed to increase the pharyngeal volume and the size of the airway; however the soft tissues of the face and therefore the appearance of the face will also change as a result of the jaw skeletal movement. The soft tissues of the face follow the skeletal advancement up to 90% in the anteroposterior dimension [9,10]. A large maxillary advancement may result in unaesthetic changes that include significant upturning of the nasal complex and considerable fullness of the nasolabial region [11-13].

The patients seeking treatment for OSA are not interested in esthetic facial improvement; however they are concerned about the possibility of deformity as a result of this treatment modality. A balance must be achieved between the therapeutic goals and the aesthetic outcomes in order to maximize patient satisfaction.

There have been some studies that have assessed the perception of facial aesthetic outcomes following MMA surgery for OSA with overall positive results [11]. Sixty-nine percent of patients were satisfied or neutral with the outcome of their surgery, according to Islam et al [14]. Li et al. [15] study reported 90% patient satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome. According to a study by Emanuele, et al. only 9% of patients reported a decrease in their attractiveness as a result of MMA surgery [16]. In the literature, a range of 9 to 31% of patients has expressed dissatisfaction with their appearance following surgery [17].

The current study shows similar findings to the existing literature, with all patients indicating either positive or neutral response to their facial appearance following surgery. Different cultures have different beauty standards, but a pronounced jaw line and prognathic mandible are considered attractive features for both men and women nowadays and MMA accomplishes just that.

Understandably, patients with class II skeletal deformity with existing maxillary protrusion are not expected to have improved facial esthetics following MMA. Even so, these two patients were indifferent to the resulting facial appearance, indicating an increased benefit from surgery over any potential cosmetic change.

Conclusion

Finally, the study supports the literature findings that MMA for OSA rarely negatively affects patients' perceptions of their facial appearance. In fact, most patients report an improvement in their facial appearance as a result of this procedure.

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