Analysis of Results in Rehabilitation Surgery of Down Syndrome Children

Yang, Won Yong; Lim, Dae Won; You, Young Cheun; Park, Jun

Abstract

Down syndrome patients possess multiple facial stigmata; hypotonic macroglossia with small oral cavity, saddle nose, epicanthal fold, telecanthus, and high palpebral fissure inclination, etc. Surgical mitigation for some of these conditions may benefit both patient and family, and may influence the patient's acceptance by general public. We reported the basic study of craniofacial complex and anthropometric study of face in Korean children with Down syndrome. With the benefit of these study, 210 Down syndrome children underwent orthomorphic surgery including augmentation rhinoplasty, epicanthoplasty, lateral canthoplasty, and partial glossectomy and for the relief of respiratory distress tonsilar adenoidectomy were performed in selected cases of Down syndrome children. We evaluated the postoperative change in 105 Down syndrome children through questionnaires about the parent's satisfaction, the change of oral function and sleep pattern. We analysed postoperative change of speech with multi-speech model 3700 program. After these rehabilitation operation, we found out some facts. The parents were happy with the result of partial glossectomy(85.1%) and augmentation rhinoplasty(82.3%). And we found general improvement in oral function and sleep pattern. The results of speech analysis showed improvement in voice quality, patch, resonance and articulation.