Veloplasty in the Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea due to Micrognathia

Abstract

Veloplasty was performed for two patients with micrognathia and difficulty in opening the mouth. They complained of heavy snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The micrognathia of the patients was congenital in one and acquired in the other. Although they had had operations of the temporomandibular joint, they could open the mouth only one finger breadth between the teeth. Because of the difficulty in opening the mouth, veloplasty was done instead of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, with complete relief of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.