Three-dimensional assessment of the nasopharyngeal airway in Down syndrome during the mixed dentition period: a case-control study.

Objective: In this retrospective case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the nasopharyngeal airway volume of children with Down syndrome (DS) and compare the results with those of control participants well matched for sex and age.

Materials and methods: Fifteen children with DS (mean age = 9.43 ± 0.38 years; 8 boys, 7 girls) and 15 control participants (mean age = 9.51 ± 0.40 years; 8 boys, 7 girls) were enrolled. The nasopharyngeal airway volume and the cross-sectional morphology were measured with cone-beam computed tomography taken for orthodontic treatment. All measurements were assessed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparison tests. Covariates were body height and body weight, and the ANB angle and the mandibular plane angle. Significance was set at P < .0019.

Results: Nasal airway, superior airway, and total airway volumes of DS participants were significantly smaller than those of the control participants in ANCOVA results adjusted for ANB angle and mandibular plane angle (P = .000). In ANCOVA results adjusted for body height and body weight, no statistically significant differences in the volume measurements were found.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the nasopharyngeal airway volume differs between children with and without DS and that the airway volume tends to be smaller in DS children than in children without DS.