Tongue Suspension Snoring Surgery
Tongue suspension with Kit ReposeTM is a surgical mini-invasiveend-oral technique used in treatment of rear tongue obstruction.The base of the tongue is anchored with a non-reabsorbablesuture, held in place with a titanium screw, to themandible in correspondence to the geni apophysis of themandible; this loop should prevent the tongue, during sleep,from dropping backwards, favoured also by gravity and hypotonicityof the genioglossus muscle.
The Repose system was approved by the FDA in 1998. It consists of a titanium screw inserted into the lower jaw on the floor of the mouth and a suture passed through the base of the tongue that is then attached to the screw. The attachment holds the tongue forward during sleep.
Tongue suspension snoring surgery usually performed in conjunction with other procedures, this surgery is potentially reversible. No studies on the long-term success are available, and little clinical data to demonstrate the efficacy of the procedure have yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Advantages:
- it is reversible, since no incision is made; and that it can be combined with UPPP, LAUP, or a tonsillectomy
Disadvantages:
- relatively long healing time (one to two weeks)
- it appears to be more effective in treating OSA than primary snoring.
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Tags: snoring surgery, tongue suspension