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Peer-reviewedCC BYJournal of clinical medicine

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Residual Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Children Treated with Adenotonsillectomy and Maxillary Expansion: An Interventional Study

  • Derek Mahony1,2
  • Niroj Bhattarai2
  • Peter Petocz3
  • Peter Borbély1
  • Krisztina Kárpáti1
  1. 1Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos Krt. 64–66., 6720 Szeged, Hungary
  2. 2Research Faculty, Excellence in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (EODO), Haberfield, NSW 2045, Australia
  3. 3Graduate Research Academy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Abstract

Background: In children with residual obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) despite combined adenotonsillectomy (TA) and semi-rapid maxillary expansion (SRME), the optimal further management remains unclear. This study evaluated the effect of a 12-month programme of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMFT) on residual OSA in this population. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 80 children (aged 7–9 years) with polysomnography-confirmed residual OSA (respiratory disturbance index [RDI] ≥ 1 event/h) after combined TA and SRME were followed for 12 months. Forty-one children completed a 12-month course of OMFT, and 39 did not, due to compliance concerns, cost/access barriers, or parental preference. RDI at 12-month follow-up (RDIfinal) was compared between groups by t-test and by a covariate-adjusted general linear model. Results: Mean baseline RDI did not differ between groups (p = 0.21). At follow-up, mean RDIfinal was 0.49 events/hour in the OMT group versus 5.26 in controls (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 3.64), a difference that persisted after adjustment for treatment order, sex, age, race, and BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A 12-month OMT programme was associated with near-normal respiratory indices in children with residual OSA after combined TA and SRME, while untreated residual OSA showed mild deterioration. Given the non-randomised design, this should be interpreted as a strong association rather than a confirmed causal effect, and a randomised trial is warranted.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mahony2026orofacial,
  title = {{Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Residual Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Children Treated with Adenotonsillectomy and Maxillary Expansion: An Interventional Study}},
  author = {Derek Mahony and Niroj Bhattarai and Peter Petocz and Peter Borbély and Krisztina Kárpáti},
  journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15197676},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665989},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Residual Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Children Treated with Adenotonsillectomy and Maxillary Expansion: An Interventional Study
AU  - Derek Mahony
AU  - Niroj Bhattarai
AU  - Peter Petocz
AU  - Peter Borbély
AU  - Krisztina Kárpáti
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of clinical medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15197676
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665989
AB  - Background: In children with residual obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) despite combined adenotonsillectomy (TA) and semi-rapid maxillary expansion (SRME), the optimal further management remains unclear. This study evaluated the effect of a 12-month programme of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMFT) on residual OSA in this population. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 80 children (aged 7–9 years) with polysomnography-confirmed residual OSA (respiratory disturbance index [RDI] ≥ 1 event/h) after combined TA and SRME were followed for 12 months. Forty-one children completed a 12-month course of OMFT, and 39 did not, due to compliance concerns, cost/access barriers, or parental preference. RDI at 12-month follow-up (RDIfinal) was compared between groups by t-test and by a covariate-adjusted general linear model. Results: Mean baseline RDI did not differ between groups (p = 0.21). At follow-up, mean RDIfinal was 0.49 events/hour in the OMT group versus 5.26 in controls (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 3.64), a difference that persisted after adjustment for treatment order, sex, age, race, and BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A 12-month OMT programme was associated with near-normal respiratory indices in children with residual OSA after combined TA and SRME, while untreated residual OSA showed mild deterioration. Given the non-randomised design, this should be interpreted as a strong association rather than a confirmed causal effect, and a randomised trial is warranted.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -