Computational simulations of hyoid bone position and tracheal displacement: effects on upper airway patency and tissue mechanics

Computational simulations of the rabbit upper airway suggest that combining tracheal displacement with anterior-based hyoid repositioning, with fixation, improves airway outcomes more than either approach alone. However, a lower natural hyoid position, characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), reduces these benefits. Optimizing OSA treatment may require considering the natural hyoid position, surgical hyoid repositioning direction/magnitude, and natural tracheal displacement range. A combined tracheal displacement-hyoid repositioning strategy may further improve airway patency in select cases.