Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology

Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology

Titanium Snoreplasty- A New Surgical Technique

Document Type : Original

Authors
Ahmad Daneshi 1
Hesam Jahandideh 2
Farideh Hosseinzadeh 1
1 ENT and Head & Neck Research Center, the Five Senses Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/ijorl.2019.31930.2051
Abstract
Introduction:
Based on the previous data, among the general population aged between 30 and 60 years, snoring is observed in 44% and 28% of males and females, respectively. Therefore, it is important to treat snoring to reduce the disruption of the bed partner's sleep and the patients’ own problems. This study aimed to present a minimally invasive procedure which is easy to perform with less tissue damage.
Materials and Methods:
This study included 13 patients suffering from primary snoring with soft palate length of 2.5cm or more. All of the patients were examined and their partners were asked to fill-out the relevant questionnaires at baselines, 90 days, 6months and 1 year after the surgery in order to assess snoring. A crescent strip of oral mucosa along with the underlying muscle were removed under general anesthesia followed by the insertion of a piece of oval-shaped titanium mesh. Moreover, two subjective methods were employed to assess the snoring of all patients.
Results:
11 patients were male, and the mean age and the mean body mass index of the patients were 48.69 years and 28.34 kg/m2, respectively. The scores obtained from the Visual Analog Scale for snoring loudness before surgery reduced from 7.63 to 3.54, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). None of the patients experienced major complications after surgery; however, there was a partial extrusion of the implant in one case which was managed conservatively with spontaneous healing.
Conclusions:
Titanium snoreplasty was successful in the reduction of snoring in this study. This method is a single-stage treatment of simple snoring with the multiple effects of palatal shortening, space increasing, and palatal stiffening.
Keywords
Apnea
Snoring
Titanium
Visual analog scale
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Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 32, Issue 1 - Serial Number 108
January and February 2020
Pages 29-34