Abstract: Objective To compare effects of surgical treatment and orthodontic treatment on the upper airway of children with upper airway stenosis and dentomaxillofacial malformation. Methods Twenty children with upper airway stenosis and dentomaxillofacial malformation were selected, including 10 in the orthodontic group and 10 in the surgical group. They respectively received orthodontic treatment with maxillary expansion and Twin-block and surgical treatment for the removal of hypertrophic adenoid tonsils. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) before and after surgery were obtained, and images were analyzed using Dolphin imaging software^® 11.8. SPSS21.0 was used to calculate the intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) and the data were paired with t-test. Results After treatment, the narrow airway of children in the surgery group and the orthodontic group were improved, and the upper airway volume increased. After treatment in the surgery group, the volume of nasopharynx (P=0.007), and the upper airway space (P=0.009) increased significantly than that in orthodontic group. After orthodontic treatment, the middle space of upper airway (P=0.044) and the lower upper airway space (P=0.002) increased significantly than that in surgery group. After treatment, the ANB of children in the orthodontic group decreased more significantly than surgery group (P=0.000). Conclusion Both surgical treatment and orthodontic treatment can improve the narrow airway of children. The former mainly acts on the middle and upper part of the upper airway, while the latter mainly acts on the lower part of the upper airway, which can increase the volume of airway and help children′s dental and maxillofacial normal growth. Synergistic treatment of surgery and orthodontics may achieve better results.

Key words: surgery, orthodontics, children, airway