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<\/p>\n\n Researcher Mohammed Mohammed Ali Al-Najhi was awarded a Master\u2019s Degree in Orthodontics for his thesis titled: Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Upper Airway Volume in Skeletal Class III Individuals with Maxillary Retrognathia\u200e, which was submitted to the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry \u2013 Sana\u2019a University. The MA defense was held on Thursday, August 27, 2026\u200e.<\/p>\n
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
\n\u2022 Prof. Khaled Ahmed Al-Dhara\u2019i \u2013 Thamar University \u2013 External Examiner and Committee Chair.
\n\u2022 Prof. Ahmed Ali Obayya \u2013 Sana\u2019a University \u2013 Principal Supervisor and Committee Member.
\n\u2022 Assoc. Prof. Fouad Lotf Al-Mutarrib \u2013 Sana\u2019a University \u2013 Internal Examiner and Committee Member.
\nThe study aimed to evaluate the three-dimensional dimensions of the upper airway in adults with skeletal Class III malocclusion resulting from maxillary retrognathia and compare them with individuals exhibiting a skeletal Class I relationship, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between maxillary skeletal changes and upper airway dimensions.
\nThe comparative study analyzed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 60 adults, divided equally into two groups: the first comprised 30 cases of skeletal Class III malocclusion associated with maxillary retrognathia, while the second was a control group of 30 individuals with a skeletal Class I relationship.
\nVolumetric measurements were obtained for several regions of the upper airway, including the nasopharynx (NP), oropharynx (OP) or velopharynx (VP), glossopharynx (GP), and laryngopharynx (LP), in addition to the total upper airway volume (TUV), using Dolphin Imaging Software, Version 12 Premium.
\nThe minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) and its anatomical location were also recorded. Inter-examiner measurement reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while statistical comparisons were performed using the independent-samples t-test and Mann\u2013Whitney U test, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.
\nThe results showed that the skeletal Class III group with maxillary retrognathia had a statistically significant reduction in total upper airway volume (TUV), with a mean volume of 25,142.90 \u00b1 5,500.45 mm\u00b3, compared with 29,253.63 \u00b1 6,094.08 mm\u00b3 in the Class I group (P = 0.008).
\nThe Class III group also showed a statistically significant reduction in oropharyngeal volume (OP), which measured 16,142.53 \u00b1 4,890.06 mm\u00b3, compared with 19,248.47 \u00b1 4,162.33 mm\u00b3 in the Class I group (P = 0.010).
\nRegarding the velopharynx (VP), the results demonstrated a statistically significant difference, with a volume of 9,919.33 mm\u00b3 in the Class III group versus 12,703.70 mm\u00b3 in the Class I group (P = 0.004).
\nBy contrast, no statistically significant difference was observed in laryngopharyngeal volume between the two groups, with P = 0.564.
\nAn upward shift in the location of the minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) was also observed in the Class III group, indicating a change in the location of the narrowest region of the upper airway consistent with the structural abnormality associated with maxillary retrognathia.
\nThe study also identified sex-related differences within the Class I group, with females exhibiting a significantly larger minimum cross-sectional area than males (P = 0.031). No statistically significant sex-related differences were observed within the Class III group.
\nThe measurement reliability assessment further demonstrated excellent inter-examiner reliability, with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) exceeding 0.99, reflecting a high degree of accuracy and consistency in the measurements obtained in the study.
\nThe study concluded that maxillary retrognathia in cases of skeletal Class III malocclusion is associated with a significant reduction in upper airway volume, particularly in the velopharyngeal and oropharyngeal regions. The findings also demonstrated an upward shift in the location of the most constricted part of the airway, reflecting the anatomical site of the skeletal abnormality.
\nThe study emphasized the importance of incorporating upper airway assessment into orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment planning for Class III patients with maxillary retrognathia, as this can enhance diagnostic accuracy and facilitate the development of appropriate treatment plans
\nThe defense session was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, colleagues, and the researcher\u2019s family.<\/p>\n
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