Background: Trismus is a common complication following treatment for oral cancers. However, its incidence in site-specific cancers is not adequately studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with trismus in treated patients with oral cancer.
Methods: The maximal mouth opening in treated oral cancers was measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find risk factors for developing trismus in the entire cohort and in a subgroup of patients with gingivobuccal complex cancers.
Results: A total of 401 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of trismus was 72.8%. On multivariate analysis, adjuvant therapy and submucous fibrosis were independent predictors. Reconstruction and method of reconstruction did not affect trismus. Bialveolar resections had significantly higher incidence of trismus.
Discussion: High prevalence of trismus was seen in patients following multimodal therapy for oral cancers. Adequate reconstruction alone may not prevent trismus and aggressive rehabilitation is key to its prevention.
Keywords: gingivobuccal cancers; oral cancer; prevalence; reconstruction; trismus.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.