RESUMEN
@#Malignant tumors in the head and neck seriously threaten the physical and mental health of patients. After treatment, they may cause many complications, such as facial deformity, difficulties with chewing, dysphagia and asaphia. Among them, trismus (restricted mouth opening) is one of the most common complications after treatment of malignant oral-maxillofacial tumors. In severe cases, patients may even suffer from trismus and eating difficulties, finally leading to malnutrition and even cachexia. Therefore, it not only affects the quality of life of patients and even endangers their lives but also brings heavy social and economic burdens. How to effectively prevent and treat posttreatment trismus is a clinical problem that is easily ignored by head and neck surgeons and urgently needs to be solved. The results of a literature review showed that trismus may be related to the tumor clinical stage, tumor site, treatment used, radiotherapy site, radiotherapy dose, radiotherapy type, and other factors. The incidence of trismus tends to be significant 6 months after treatment. Without early intervention, the resulting dysfunction may become more severe. Current studies have shown that the prevention and treatment of restricted mouth opening is based on controlling the progress of restricted mouth opening and restoring function. Exercise intervention for trismus can significantly improve the restricted mouth opening of patients with malignant head and neck tumors after treatment.
RESUMEN
Aims: The frequency, with which restricted mouth opening is encountered in the clinical practice, makes it essential to establish what constitutes the normal range. This study was undertaken to evaluate the normal range of mouth opening in adult population in south India. Settings and Design: randomized clinical study conducted on dentate adult patients to evaluate the normal range of mouth opening. Materials and Methods: 500 healthy patients aged between 18-59 were randomly selected and divided into four groups according to their age ranges. The maximum inter-incisal distance and width of right and left three fingers at the first distal inter-phalanges were measured using vernier calipers. Statistical analysis used: ANOVA test, student t test and pearsons correlation test. Results: The mean value and range of maximum mouth opening of 50.3mm±6.26mm for males and 49.9mm±6.74mm for females was recorded. These values were significant and correlated with the width of three fingers. It was found that the greatest mean maximum mouth opening was recorded in youngest age group and lowest was recorded in older age group in both genders. Conclusions: The mean mouth opening value decreases with age and is lesser in females as compared to males of same age. This study demonstrated that individuals in all the four groups were able to vertically align their right and left three fingers between the upper and lower central incisors upto the first distal interphalangeal folds thus suggesting that, width of three fingers can be used as 'tool' to distinguish 'normal' from 'restricted' mouth opening.