Hyoid Suspension in Foley, AL
Pediatric & AdultWhat is Hyoid Suspension?
Hyoid suspension is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic snoring. The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone in the neck that has attachments to muscles of the tongue as well as other muscles and soft tissues around the throat. The hyoid bone is free to move around rather than firmly anchored in position, and this mobility may cause this area to collapse and cause airway blockage during sleep. With a hyoid suspension procedure, this mobility is eliminated.
Why is Hyoid Suspension Performed?
A hyoid suspension procedure may be performed on patients suffering from OSA and snoring, as well as the conditions that cause or aggravate these symptoms. The procedure secures the hyoid bone to the thyroid cartilage and helps to stabilize this region of the airway.
Hyoid suspension may be recommended for patients with:
- A larger than normal tongue
- Weak tongue muscles
- Snoring caused by an enlarged tongue or weak tongue muscles
- Obstructive sleep apnea caused by an enlarged tongue or weak tongue muscles
What does Hyoid Suspension Involve?
Hyoid suspension surgery pulls the base of the tongue and other soft tissues around the throat forward by anchoring the neck’s hyoid bone to the thyroid cartilage. The surgery expands and stabilizes the airway, making it less likely that the tongue will collapse into the airway and obstruct breathing during sleep. It is often done in conjunction with other procedures such as tongue advancement or maxillomandibular advancement surgery to treat more severe cases of sleep apnea. The procedure is performed in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia.
What are the advantages of Hyoid Suspension?
Hyoid suspension offers a number of advantages, including:
A permanently enlarged breathing passage that increases airflow
Continued relief from airway obstruction
Significant, long-term improvement of snoring
Significant, long-term improvement of obstructive sleep apnea symptoms
Dr. Keith Kowal, a highly experienced ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist in Foley, Alabama is an expert in enhanced treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, including the hyoid suspension procedure. If you have OSA symptoms or chronic snoring and want to do something about it, you can trust Dr. Kowal and his 30 years of experience. His goal is to help his patients breathe better and sleep better to live better! A consultation with Dr. Kowal is the first step to a good night’s sleep and a healthier lifestyle for you and your bed partner. To find out whether you’re a candidate for hyoid suspension, call 251.943.1117 today to schedule an appointment or simply fill out the form on this page.
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OUR PROCEDURES
Inspire - a cpap alternative
The Inspire upper airway stimulation system consists of a small impulse generator implanted beneath the clavicle, a tunneled breathing sensing lead placed between the external and intercostal muscles, and a tunneled stimulation lead attached to the branch of the hypoglossal nerve that produces tongue protrusion.
When the sensing lead detects inspiration is occurring, the impulse generator sends a signal via the stimulation lead to the hypoglossal nerve, which results in slight forward displacement of the stiffened tongue. The impulse generator is similar in size and appearance to a cardiac pacemaker, and the latest version is magnetic resonance imaging compatible.
Balloon Sinuplasty
Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for treating chronic or recurrent sinusitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the sinuses. This advanced treatment opens up blocked or narrow sinus passages to relieve sinus pain and pressure without the need for cutting. During the procedure, natural sinus openings and surrounding tissue are preserved.
Dr. Keith Kowal at ENT Centers of Excellence is one of the only ENT physicians in the region who offers Balloon Sinuplasty in-office. They both can perform Balloon Sinuplasty as an outpatient procedure as well.
Transoral Robotic Surgery
ENT Centers of Excellence is pleased to offer a breakthrough, state-of-the-art surgery called transoral robotic surgery (TORS), a minimally invasive procedure that offers numerous benefits to patients. TORS can be used for multiple purposes, for treatment of both sleep disorders and head and neck cancers. Dr. Keith Kowal is the only board-certified provider of TORS in the region.
Lateral Pharyngoplasty
Lateral pharyngoplasty is surgery that is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic snoring. The procedure involves a combination of tissue removal and tissue repositioning of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) as well as the tissues on the sides of the throat (the lateral pharyngeal tissues).
Radiofrequency Ablation (of the tongue)
Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the base of tongue is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic snoring that may be performed if the tongue is the primary cause of OSA and snoring symptoms. The purpose of the procedure is to reduce the size of the tongue base so that the airway is clearer and less likely to cause a blockage.
Hyoid Suspension
Hyoid suspension is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic snoring. The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone in the neck that has attachments to muscles of the tongue as well as other muscles and soft tissues around the throat. The hyoid bone is free to move around rather than firmly anchored in position, and this mobility may cause this area to collapse and cause airway blockage during sleep. With a hyoid suspension procedure, this mobility is eliminated.