title: Modified use of a dynamic bite opener--treatment and prevention of trismus in a child with head and neck cancer: a case report.
abstract: Trismus may be a complication arising during or after treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. Treatment of trismus is difficult, making prevention very important. To prevent and treat trismus in a patient with a nasopharyngeal tumor, the Contract-Relax-Antagonist-Contract (CRAC) technique was applied, with the aid of a custom-made dynamic bite opener (DBO). The CRAC technique in combination with the DBO, as a therapy/prevention program for trismus, is not referred to in the literature. The combination of CRAC and DBO appeared to be a gentle and effective method well tolerated by the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University Hospital Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kropmans
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tamminga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*