Abstract
Background
The palatoglossus is a muscle of the soft palate extending from the palatine aponeurosis inferolaterally along the pharyngeal wall inserting at the posterolateral surface of the tongue. Palatoglossal stimulation dilates the retropalatal space in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Whether there is alteration in palatoglossus length during mandibular advancement and how this relates to Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) outcomes is unknown.
Methods
Participants with OSA referred for MAS underwent upper airway MRI with and without mandibular advancement. The linear distance between the origin of the palatoglossus muscle at the palatine aponeurosis and its insertion at the tongue was measured to approximate palatoglossus length. The difference in measured lengths with and without mandibular advancement was calculated. Change in palatoglossus with advancement was compared to treatment outcomes.
Progress to date
71 participants with mean±SD AHI 26.0±16.1 events/hr were included in our study. Mean±SD palatoglossus length was 49.58±5.74mm. With mandibular advancement, mean±SD palatoglossus length was 51.21±5.46mm this was a significant change in length of mean±SD 1.63±4.3mm. This was a mean±SD 4.79±9.08% alteration in length with mandibular advancement. Treatment response was not significantly related to change in palatoglossus length (p> 0.05).
Intended outcome and Impact
Our intention was to demonstrate significant length alteration in palatoglossus with mandibular advancement and correlate this to treatment outcome. This may highlight palatoglossus as a target for MAS or other OSA therapies for future clinicians.