Dysphagia: Clinical Management in Adults and Children A 58-year-old woman came a
ID: 73620 • Letter: D
Question
Dysphagia: Clinical Management in Adults and Children
A 58-year-old woman came as an outpatient with increased dysphagia and weight loss over the past 3 months. Five years ago she had completed a full course of radiation treatment for tonsillar cancer. The clinical evaluation revealed severe trismus, which made it very difficult to get a spoon in her mouth. She was treated with TheraBite (Atos Medical AB, West Allis, Wis.) for 3 weeks, resulting in improved jaw opening. 1. What is the probable source of her trismus? 2. What is TheraBite? How does it work?
Explanation / Answer
1). The radiation treatment that she took for tonsillar cancer is the reason for her trismus. Trismus is a problem of difficulty in opening mouth (lock-jaw condition). The radiation treatment for head neck generally causes trismus may be due to damage to muscles and joints.
2). TheraBite is a small device that is used in the jaw exercises. Using this device, the jaw is allowed to open and close slowly to a certain extent. Gradual exercise makes the jock movement free and restore the normal jaw movement.
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