Cephalometric Evaluation for Upper Airway and Facial Skeletal in Sleep-Disordered Children after Adenotonsillectomy

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Prolonged sleep apnea in children can lead to learning difficulty, behavioral disorder, and growth impairment. The most common cause for pediatric sleep apnea is tonsillar hypertrophy, therefore, tonsillectomy has been the choice of treatment for long time. In this study, we investigated subjective and objective improvements in sleep breathing disturbance after adenotonsillectomy. Materials and Methods: We examined medical records of 32 children aged from 3 to 9 years old who took adenotonsillectomy. After collecting demographical data and endoscopic finding, we compared sleep-disturbance questionnaire and cephalometry before and after the surgery. Results: Patients with breathing symptom showed younger age and more hypertrophied tonsil. Berlin questionnaire score significantly improved after adenotonsillectomy, especially in symptomatic group. However, there was no significant change in cephalometric parameters through follow-up period. Conclusion: Although adenotonsillectomy could not reposit craniofacial change due to sleep breathing disorder, it delayed further deterioration. Furthermore, there was much improvement in subjective symptoms after adenotonsillectomy.