Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) or

orthognathic surgery Orthognathic surgery (), also known as corrective jaw surgery or simply jaw surgery, is surgery designed to correct conditions of the jaw and lower face related to structure, growth, airway issues including sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, malocclusio ...

, also sometimes called bimaxillary advancement (Bi-Max), or maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO), is a surgical procedure or

sleep surgery Sleep surgery is a range of surgical procedures to treat sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep-disordered breathing), especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The spectrum of sleep-related breathing disorders also includes Snoring, primary snor ...

which moves the upper jaw (

maxilla In vertebrates, the maxilla (: maxillae ) is the upper fixed (not fixed in Neopterygii) bone of the jaw formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the hard palate in the front of the mouth. The two maxil ...

) and the lower jaw (

mandible In jawed vertebrates, the mandible (from the Latin ''mandibula'', 'for chewing'), lower jaw, or jawbone is a bone that makes up the lowerand typically more mobilecomponent of the mouth (the upper jaw being known as the maxilla). The jawbone i ...

) forward. The procedure was first used to correct deformities of the facial skeleton to include

malocclusion In orthodontics, a malocclusion is a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close. The English-language term dates from 1864; Edward Angle (1855–1 ...

. In the late 1970s advancement of the lower jaw (mandibular advancement) was noted to improve sleepiness in three patients. Subsequently, maxillomandibular advancement was used for patients with

obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and is characterized by recurrent episodes of complete or partial airway obstruction, obstruction of the respiratory tract#Upper respiratory tract, upper airway lea ...

. Currently, maxillomandibular advancement surgery is often performed simultaneously with genioglossus advancement (tongue advancement). The genioglossus advancement pulls the tongue forward in a manner that decreases the amount of tongue blockage during sleep. MMA has been demonstrated to be one of the most effective surgical treatments for sleep apnea, due to its high success rate. Nonetheless, the procedure is often used after other forms of treatment have failed (nasal surgeries,

tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure in which both palatine tonsils are fully removed from the back of the throat. The procedure is mainly performed for recurrent tonsillitis, throat infections and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). For those wit ...

uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (abbreviated as UPPP or UP3) is a type of sleep surgery, which are surgical procedures for sleep-related breathing disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty involves removal and/or rem ...

, tongue reduction surgeries). There is a longer recovery when compared to other sleep apnea surgeries, since the bones of the face have to heal into their new position.

External links

Description of MMA for Sleep Apnea
* * * Arrick, Roger
"Roger's MMA Sleep Apnea Surgery at Stanford Blog"
Roger Arrick Project Repository, September 21, 2008.
Sleep Apnea May Have Added Dangers for Women

Does Sleep Apnea increase the Risk of Heart Attacks by 30%
{{surgery-stub Jaw surgery Oral and maxillofacial surgery Oral surgery Sleep surgery

See also

External links