Amplitude and speed of masticatory movements in total laryngectomy patients.
BACKGROUND
Laryngectomy is a surgical procedure that aims to remove the hyoid bone and the larynx and its muscles; it is inferred that a destabilization of the hyoid-mandibular axis will occur, consequently changing chewing.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the amplitude and speed of chewing in laryngectomies and to compare them with two groups of non-laryngectomized individuals differentiated by age.


METHODS
72 volunteers were divided into three groups: (A) 32 volunteers, mean age 22.3 years, 17 females; (B) 20 volunteers, mean age 53.2 years, 10 females, and (C) 20 volunteers who underwent total laryngectomy, mean age 61.5 years, one female. Electrognathography, a method that tracks and measures millimeter jaw movements, was used for evaluation.


RESULTS
Significant differences were observed between groups A and C in masticatory amplitude and speed.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, and adaptive and compensatory changes appear to explain chewing better than factors related to total laryngectomy.
Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Paulo Fernandes
PF
Pinheiro Junior
Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Lucas Carvalho Aragão
LC
Albuquerque
Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Cicilia Lais de Lima
CL
Silva
Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Natália Freira da
NF
Silva
Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Daniele Andrade da
DA
Cunha
Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
Hilton Justino da
HJ
Silva
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult