A pilot study of intensive intervention using a novel trismus device

Trismus secondary to head and neck neoplasm treatment impacts upon quality of life, nutrition, oral hygiene, and dentition. Current treatment options for trismus apply unquantified force to the jaw, and in many cases, the device costs are prohibitive. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of speech language pathology 2023-12, Vol.ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), p.1-8
Main Authors: Charters, Emma, Cheng, K., Dunn, M., Wu, R., Palme, C., Howes, D., Low, Tsu-hui (hubert), Heng, C., Ricketts, V., Kneebone, K., Loy, J., Clark, J. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cohort Studies
deglutition disorders
dysphagia
Head & neck cancer
head and neck neoplasm
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Patients
Pilot Projects
Quality of Life
Swallowing
Trismus
Trismus - diagnosis
Trismus - etiology
Trismus - therapy
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Summary:Trismus secondary to head and neck neoplasm treatment impacts upon quality of life, nutrition, oral hygiene, and dentition. Current treatment options for trismus apply unquantified force to the jaw, and in many cases, the device costs are prohibitive. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the impact of a novel trismus device. This single arm cohort study prospectively evaluated the impact of a novel trismus device on maximal incisal opening (MIO), trismus-related function and quality of life scores. Seventeen patients diagnosed with trismus were recruited to undergo a 10-week program using a novel device. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing pre- vs post-intervention validated measures. A significant improvement in MIO was observed post the 10-week intervention period (12.6 mm). This was associated with an improvement in patient reported trismus symptomology including quality of life, swallowing, speech, and jaw pain. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel device in the treatment of trismus. Further evaluation of this device is warranted to assess efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness in a larger cohort with appropriate controls.
ISSN:1754-9507
1754-9515
DOI:10.1080/17549507.2022.2130429