ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of orthognathic surgery in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with a focus on reducing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and improving the quality of life of patients. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out, including clinical studies, cohort studies, and case series available in the main scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. The analysis covered 15 selected studies, which presented data on the effects of orthognathic surgery on patients with OSA. The results indicated a significant reduction in the AHI after surgery, with an improvement of 50% to 60% in the cases analyzed. In addition, a reduction in daytime sleepiness symptoms and an overall improvement in patients' quality of life were observed, especially in cases of mandibular retrognathia and maxillary hypoplasia. Complications were minimal, with an incidence rate of 10%, most of which were mild in nature. It was concluded that orthognathic surgery was an effective option in the treatment of moderate to severe OSA, especially when there were anatomical anomalies in the upper respiratory tract, presenting good results when compared to other treatments, such as CPAP.