Infant Oral Cancer Postoperative Rehabillitation：Language Hearing Therapy / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

We present the case of an infant with oral cancer that developed in the 3rd month of life, following which oral feeding became difficult. In the 11th month of life, the right side of the mandible was resected surgically and movement on the right side of the mandible was restricted because of the compression caused by the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap used for reconstruction. We initiated rehabilitation for the initial acquisition of eating functions so that the patient would be able to ingest baby food despite having an organic disorder in the oral cavity.Postoperative dysphagia in adult oral cancer is an organic disorder that occurs after acquisition of a normal swallowing pattern, whereas postoperative dysphagia in pediatric oral cancer is an organic disorder that occurs during the initial acquisition of eating functions. At present, the rehabilitation approach has not been established.From 12 months of age in this patient, we evaluated training methods that were easily accepted by children, including postoperative oral function evaluation, with the goal of the initial acquisition of eating functions. We approached postoperative wound contracture prevention with a focus on approaches to lip insufficiency, predation, and tongue/mandibular movements. In addition, we focused on family guidance and tried to support the caretaker's correct use of methods established during training.