Objectives: Define differences in palatal and uvular dimensions between habitual snorers and healthy nonsnoring control subjects. Document the changes in palatal configuration after different types of palatoplasty.
Study design: A prospective controlled clinical study was performed analysing video recordings of the soft palate and oropharynx of 251 subjects (121 habitual snorers, 79 patients after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), and 51 healthy volunteers).
Methods: The recordings were captured using a rigid endoscope with a reference measure applied to the soft palate and a mark at the junction of the soft and hard palate. Four parameters were studied in the captured pictures after correction for the distortion deformity in fibreoptic endoscopic images:
Results: Analysis showed that habitual snorers, compared with healthy volunteers have significantly increased soft palate length (P = .00001) increased uvula length (P = .0002) and width (P = .00001), and narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus (distance between the posterior pillars) (P = .04). In patients studied after LAUP, the length of the soft palate is significantly shorter (P = .00001) than in the preoperative cohort, and the oropharyngeal isthmus is significantly narrower (P = .00001) when compared to healthy volunteers.
Conclusions: Habitual snorers have a long soft palate, a long wide uvula, and a narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus. LAUP shortens and tightens the elongated palate and causes a further reduction in the space between the posterior pillars.
Reda M, Sims AJ, Collins MM, McKee GJ, Marshall H, Kelly PJ, Wilson JA. Morphological assessment of the soft palate in habitual snoring using image analysis. Laryngoscope. 1999 Oct;109(10):1655-60.
Dr. Andrew J. Sims, Freeman Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: +44 (0)191-223-6161.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161 E-mail: webmaster@rmpd.org.uk Web: http://www.rmpd.org.uk
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Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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