A study on the changes of pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone and head posture before and after tonsillectomy in functional Class III malocclusion patients

Park, Won Seo; Lee, Jin Woo; Cha, Kyung Suk

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to find out the changes of the pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone and head posture before and after tonsillectomy in functional class III malocclusion patients. For this study, 21 Angle's class I patients and 21 Angle's class III patients, totally 42 subjects were chosen. The results were as follows; 1. In comparison to Class I group, tongue was more anteriorly and hyoid bone was more inferiorly positioned in functional Class III group 2. In comparison to pre-tonsillectomy, tongue was more posteriorly positioned and larger nasopharynx depth was shown in post-tonsillectomy. In post tonsillectomy, the hyoid bone was displaced posteriorly and superiorly and counterclockwise rotation was shown. 3. The level of significance for the correlation shown was 5 percent (p<0.05) indicating that: The change of nasopharyx depth was correlated to the inclination of lower incisors. Vertical change of tongue posture was correlated to the hyoid axis change. Vertical change of hyoid bone was correlated to the horizontal change of hyoid bone, craruocervical inclination. The change of craniocervical inclination was correlated to the inclination of lower incisors. 4. After the tonsillectomy, counterclockwise rotation of hyoid axis was associated with decease of hya-NL and large nasopharyngeal airway. High posture of the tongue was associated with decrease of hya-NL. Posterior posture of the tongue was associated with increase of h-hl,and decrease of hya-ba-n.