Outcome of postsurgical sequential functional exercise of jaw fracture.
BACKGROUND
A large number of studies and clinical cases show that an ideal prognosis for mouth function cannot be obtained without sufficient and reasonable postsurgical functional exercise after jaw fracture. However, no unifying criteria exist on postsurgical functional exercise with jaw fracture. The study was designed to explore effective methods of postsurgical functional exercise of jaw fracture.


METHODS
One hundred seventeen inpatients with jaw fracture between August 2005 and August 2006 were subjects in this study. Sequential function exercise methods were used to recover patients' gape degree, chewing, and so on. Gape degree was recorded, and healing of the jaw was assessed using x-ray.


RESULTS
All 117 patients with jaw fracture who underwent surgery were involved in the analysis. After sequential function exercise, gape degree and chewing function improved; good occluding relations were retained. Gape degree was significantly improved at 8 or 12 weeks postsurgery compared with 1 or 4 weeks postsurgery (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences in gape degree were observed between 1 and 4 weeks postsurgery and between 8 and 12 weeks postsurgery (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential function exercise contributes much to patient recovery of mouth function. This method is effective for postsurgical functional recovery of jaw fracture.
Feng
Zhiyuan
Z
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Chen
Runliang
R
Zhang
Yong
Y
Yang
Miaomiao
M
Lin
Yunfeng
Y
Tian
Weidong
W
Liu
Lei
L
D000328:Adult; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult