Rapid maxillary expansion outcomes in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children

Objectives: Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretoconfirmtheefficacyofrapidmaxillaryexpansioninchildren withmoderateadenotonsillarhypertrophyinalargersampleandtoevaluateretrospectivelyitslong-term benefits in a group of children who underwent orthodontic treatment 10 years ago. Methods: After general clinical examination and overnight polysomnography, all eligible children underwent cephalometric evaluation and started 12 months of therapy with rapid maxillary expansion. Anewpolysomnographywasperformedattheendoftreatment(T1).Fourteenchildrenunderwentclinical evaluation and Brouilette questionnaire, 10 years after the end of treatment (T2). Results: Forty patients were eligible for recruitment. At T1, 34/40 (85%) patients showed a decrease of apnea–hypopneaindex(AHI)greaterthan20%(ΔAHI67.45%±25.73%)andweredefinedresponders.Only 6/40 (15%) showed a decrease <20% of AHI at T1 and were defined as non-responders (ΔAHI −53.47%±61.57%).Moreover,57.5%ofpatientspresentedresidualOSA(AHI>1ev/h)aftertreatment.Disease duration was significantly lower (2.5±1.4 years vs 4.8±1.9 years, p<0.005) and age at disease onset was higher in responder patients compared to non-responders (3.8±1.5 years vs 2.3±1.9 years, p<0.05). Cephalometric variables showed an increase of cranial base angle in non-responder patients (p<0.05). Fourteen children (mean age 17.0±1.9 years) who ended orthodontic treatment 10 years previously showed improvement of Brouilette score. Conclusion: Starting an orthodontic treatment as early as symptoms appear is important in order to increase the efficacy of treatment. An integrated therapy is needed.