Posted by Sarah Schuman, MS, CCC-SLP on 7/23/2019 to
Head & Neck Cancer, Radiation Therapy
New Research!
Systematic review and meta-analysis reinforces the significant prevalence of trismus (equal to or less than 35 mm MIO) in head & neck cancer patients up to 10 years post treatment.
Included in the review were 23 studies and 15 meta-analysis reviews with results from 2786 patients. Patients' treatment included surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy singly or in combination. Between 3-10 years out, an average of 32.6% patients continued to suffer from trismus. Cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx put patients at a higher risk for trismus.
To read the complete study:
Have trismus? Receiving treatment for Oral or Nasal Cancer?
CranioRehab offers jaw motion rehab devices including the OraStretch press that provide stretching and passive motion of the jaw. Visit our Trismus information page to learn more about the definition, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of trismus.
Watters, AL, Cope, S, Keller, MN, Padilla, M, Enciso, R. Prevalence of trismus in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Head & Neck. 2019; 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.25836