Long-term results of the pillar palatal implant system for primary snoring

Abstract

Objectives: Three-month results could demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Pillar® Palatal Implant System in the treatment of primary snoring in a limited number of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the results over a 1-year follow-up period in an extended patient group. Methods: Forty-one healthy patients with primary snoring due to palatal flutter were enrolled into this prospective study after clinical and endoscopic examination (42.3 ± 9.0 years, body-mass-index 25.3 ± 2.6 kg/m2, apnea-hypopnea-index 3.4 ± 2.3). Under local anesthesia, 3 implants intended for permanent implantation were placed into the soft palate as close to the midline as possible. Snoring (evaluated by the bedpartner), postoperative morbidity, and daytime sleepiness (evaluated by the patient) were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) before and 90, 180, and 360 days after surgery. Results: All implants could be placed without any complications or remarcable postoperative pain. During the first year, 12 implants were partially extruded in 10 patients without any airway compromise. Four patients had them reimplanted as they realized an increase of their snoring after the implant removal. Speech, swallowing, and taste remained unchanged. Snoring was reduced from 7.1 ± 1.9 to 4.2 ± 2.7 and finally 4.0 ± 2.6 (VAS, P < 0.001). Daytime sleepiness dropped significantly from 2.8 ± 2.6 to finally 1.2 ± 1.2 (VAS, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The Pillar® Palatal Implant System is a new surgical tool for the reduction of snoring. Our subjective data demonstrated its safety and efficacy as well as good patients’ acceptance over a period of 1 year.