Assessing stomatognathic performance after mandibulectomy according to the method of mandibular reconstruction

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 948 - 955
• Main Authors: Ishida, S., Shibuya, Y., Kobayashi, M., Komori, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Male; Mandible - physiology; Mandible - surgery; mandibular movement; Mandibular Neoplasms - surgery; mandibular reconstruction; Mandibular Reconstruction - methods; mandibulectomy; Mastication - physiology; masticatory muscles; Masticatory Muscles - physiology; masticatory performance; Middle Aged; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Oral Health; Sickness Impact Profile; stomatognathic performance; Surgery; Surgical Flaps; Surveys and Questionnaires; masticatory performance; masticatory muscles; mandibulectomy; mandibular movement; mandibular reconstruction; stomatognathic performance
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2015.03.011

The aim of this study was to investigate stomatognathic performance after mandibulectomy. Twenty-six subjects were classified into two groups: the mandibular continuity (MC) group were reconstructed and kept in MC, while the mandibular non-continuity (MNC) group lost MC. Stomatognathic performance was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile in Japanese (OHIP-J), a colour-changing chewing gum, a gummy jelly, Sato's questionnaire, electromyography (EMG) of the masticatory muscles, and mandibular movement. The OHIP-J and modified Sato's questionnaire revealed that the physical and eating disability of the MNC group was significantly more severe than that of the MC group (P<0.05). The mean EMG activity of the anterior temporalis muscle in the relaxed state was significantly higher in the MNC group than in the MC group (P<0.05). The mean masticating/relaxing ratio of EMG activities for the masseter muscle was lower in the MNC group than in the MC group (P<0.05). The maximum mouth opening range of the MNC group was greater than that of the MC group (P<0.05). Accordingly, the MC group had good results for physical and eating ability. The MNC group suffered from muscle fatigue but had the advantage of a greater maximum mouth opening range.