EFFECT OF UPPER-AIRWAY PASSAGES ON CRANIOFACIAL GROWTH IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL - A PILOT-STUDY

Objective: The process of postnatal growth and development of the face and skull is of major interest to otolaryngologists. Surgery is often considered as an option for the treatment of benign and malignant tum ours, traumatic facial deformities, and congenital abnormalities of th e head and neck in children and adolescents. The extent of surgery and the type of reconstruction is frequently influenced by concerns about the potential effect on future craniofacial growth. Surgery is also s ometimes recommended as a method to influence facial growth as In tons illectomy and adenoidectomy for 'adenoid facies syndrome.' There are a number of different theories concerning the factors that influence th e growth of the face and cranium. None of these is universally accepte d. The predominant theory is the functional matrix theory. This study was designed to evaluate the validity of this theory in an animal mode l. a new animal model had to be developed to perform the study. This p ilot study was then conducted. Method: A laryngotracheal separation pr ocedure was performed on juvenile goats. This effectively eliminated t he use of the upper airway by the animals, thereby removing one of the major functional matrices from the model. The animals were allowed to grow. A control group was used, and comparisons were made between the two groups. Results: The results of the study suggest that the functi onal matrix theory is not valid in this experimental model. Conclusion s: Further research is required to confirm this finding, This would ha ve important implications for our understanding of the biology of cran iofacial growth and have clinical ramifications for otolaryngologists and other clinicians' with an interest in the head and neck.