Morphological assessment of the soft palate in habitual snoring using image analysis

Objectives: Define differences in palatal and uvular dimensions between hab itual snorers and healthy nonsnoring control subjects. Document the changes in palatal configuration after different types of palatoplasty. Study Desi gn: A prospective controlled clinical study was performed analyzing video r ecordings of the soft palate and oropharynx of 251 subjects (121 habitual s norers, 79 patients after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty ([LAUP], and 51 healthy volunteers). Methods: The recordings were captured using a rigid en doscope with a reference measure applied to the soft palate and a mark at t he junction of the soft and hard palate, Four parameters were studied in th e captured pictures after correction for the distortion deformity in fibero ptic endoscopic images: 1) length of soft palate, 2) length of uvula, 3) wi dth of uvula, and 4) distance between posterior pillars. Results: Analysis showed that habitual snorers, compared with healthy volunteers have signifi cantly increased soft palate length (P = .00001), increased uvula length (P = .0002) and width (P = .00001), and narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus (dista nce between the posterior pillars) (P = .04), In patients studied after LAU P, 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), Moreover, this latter distance is significantly nar rower (P = .00001) when compared with healthy volunteers. Conclusions: Habi tual snorers have a long soft palate, a long wide uvula, and a narrowed oro pharyngeal isthmus, LAUP shortens and tightens the elongated palate and cau ses a further reduction in the space between the posterior pillars.