Abstract
Objective: 1) Evaluate swallowing characteristics before and after geniotubercle advancement (GTA). 2) Determine if GTA’s effects on tongue-base position could be useful for patients who have dysphagia without OSA.
Method: Patients with AHI greater than 10 scheduled for GTA were enrolled consecutively. Video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) was performed preoperatively and 4 months postoperatively. Imagej64 software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) was used to measure hyolaryngeal elevation and displacement. Video recordings assessed valecular pooling, aspiration, and bolus movement. Studies were reviewed by a speech pathologist and an otolaryngologist.
Results: Preoperative demographics AHI range was 12.4 to 72 with a mean of 51.4 and a median of 65. Postoperatively AHI was 3.8 to 22.4 with a mean of 11.6 and a median of 11.2. There was no reported pre- or postoperative dysphagia or aspiration. There was no radiographic evidence of silent aspiration. Hyolaryngeal superior elevation was 0.40, 0.39 (P = .85), anterior displacement changes were 0.27, 0.17 (P = .23), and total motion was 0.50, 0.43 (P = .13).
Conclusion: While geniotubercle advancement surgery was effective at reducing the AHI in all patients in this series, the procedure did not significantly affect the swallowing function of patients. It also did not appear to significantly alter the hyolaryngeal movement, making it unlikely to assist with patients suffering from dysphagia.
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