First baseman Mike Napoli, who helped the Boston Red Sox to
a World Series win last year despite setting a franchise record for most strikeouts
in a single season, has struggled with sleep apnea for his whole MLB career. Having
tried multiple conservative treatments, Napoli will now have sleep apnea surgery
during the offseason to reposition his jaw.
Napoli told a Boston radio station that he will undergo bimaxillary
advancement (also known as maxillomandibular advancement) surgery next month. This
procedure widens the airway by separating and repositioning bones in the upper
and lower jaws to facilitate unobstructed breathing.
Obstructive sleep
apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked. Moving the jaws forward reduces
the risk of airway obstruction due to collapse of structures in the mouth like
the tongue or palate.
Bimaxillary advancement has a number of benefits over other
sleep apnea surgeries, including:
- Extremely effective relief for sleep apnea symptoms
- Long-term success rate is higher than 90%
- Minimal need for revision or additional surgeries to enhance results
- Some patients look younger due to elongation of facial features
Recovery from maxillomandibular advancement does tend to
take longer than other types of sleep apnea surgery. A surgeon with experience
in sleep disorders can discuss your concerns and determine whether or not surgical
intervention is the best treatment option.
To learn more about sleep apnea surgery and other treatment
options in your area, please contact
a professional online or call 1
(866) 727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK)
today.