Maxillomandibular Advancement Improves Multiple Health-Related and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To comprehensively determine the effectiveness and safety of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We designed and implemented a prospective multicenter cohort study to evaluate OSA patients who underwent MMA. The primary outcome measures and associated instruments included sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), quality of life (QOL) (Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire [FOSQ]), sleep-disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea index), cardiovascular risk (office blood pressure and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and neurocognitive performance (psychomotor vigilance testing [PVT]). The outcomes were measured preoperatively and approximately 6 months postoperatively. Other variables were grouped into the following categories: demographic and pre-MMA use of continuous positive airway pressure. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed.

RESULTS: The sample was composed of 30 adult patients (63% men; mean age, 45.9 ± 9.8 years). The median length of follow-up was 6.7 months (range, 4.3 to 12.7 months). The ESS score decreased from a mean of 13.3 to 4.9 (P < .001). The FOSQ score increased from a mean of 14.1 to 18.3 (P < .001). The apnea-hypopnea index decreased from a mean of 39.6 to 7.9 events per hour (P < .001). Mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 83 to 79.7 mm Hg (P = .025). PVT response times improved after MMA (P = .04). Few treatment-related adverse events occurred, which had minimal impact on the QOL. Additional improvements in sleepiness (mean ESS score change, -7.6; P < .001), QOL (mean FOSQ score change, 3.9; P < .001), and PVT (mean change, 0.5; P = .004) occurred after MMA for patients using continuous positive airway pressure before surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: MMA is a highly effective and safe treatment for OSA, which predictably leads to significant improvements in sleepiness, QOL, sleep-disordered breathing, and neurocognitive performance, as well as a reduction in cardiovascular risk (blood pressure).