Effects of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation on Tongue Strength and Endurance: Prospective Study - Abstract
Background: Neuromuscular changes in patients with OSA might occur when treated with the application of unilateral THN. Objectives: Our aim was to assess whether nightly long-term stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve (N. XII) or CPAP treatment could modify tongue strength and/or endurance and whether there is a difference in tongue strength and/or endurance between OSA patients compared to an age and sex-matched healthy control group. Materials and methods: We prospectively measured tongue strength and/or endurance by The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument in OSA patients previous to any treatment and after 3 months of neurostimulation. We collected data of 28 male OSA patients (including 9 subjects treated with neurostimulation, and 19 subjects treated with CPAP) and 20 healthy controls. In the CPAP and healthy control groups, patients were divided each time into 2 subgroups according to their BMI. Results: We did not find any influence of nightly stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve or of CPAP on tongue strength and endurance. We observed no influence of the BMI on tongue strength and endurance; obesity doesn’t play a negative role in muscle capacity. Conclusion: Although it can be theorized that a lack of supportive strength in the pharyngeal musculature is strongly contributive to the pathophysiology of OSAS, these difference could not be measured in awake patients.