A non-tooth-borne mouth-opening device for postoperative rehabilitation after surgical release of trismus.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of severe trismus requires a combination of surgical release and postoperative rehabilitation; the latter is essential for preventing a relapse due to postoperative inactivity and scarring. Mouth-opening devices for this purpose are placed between or fixed to the teeth to keep the dental arches apart; but patients suffering from severe trismus often present with partially or totally edentulous arches, decayed teeth, or periodontitis, which do not allow for the use of such devices.


METHODS
In this article, a new mouth-opening device is described. It applies force to two intraoral screws placed in the vestibulum of the maxillary and mandibular bones. It can be used in patients with poor dental conditions and allows rehabilitation to start immediately after trismus release.


RESULTS
A case is presented. The interalveolar distance was improved from 5 mm to 45 mm and maintained at 6-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Our non-tooth-borne mouth opening device is useful for postoperative rehabilitation after surgical release of trismus.
Heller
Frank
F
Department of Plastic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Medical College, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wei
Fu-Chan
FC
Chang
Yang-Ming
YM
Tsai
Chi-Ying
CY
Liao
Han-Tsung
HT
Lin
Chun-Li
CL
Kuo
Yu-Chan
YC
D001863:Bone Screws; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014313:Trismus / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*