Effect of High Power Laser Therapy on Radiotherapy Induced Trismus in Head and Neck Cancer

A.H. Abdel-Twab, M.H. El-Gendy, N.F. Ewais, E.S. Abdelnaby, H.M. Abd El Shafi
International Journal of Current Science, 13(4):84–96, 2023

Introduction: Trismus is a common oral morbidity that accompanies oncological treatment in head and neck cancer patients (HNCs), and it is defined as inability to fully open the mouth that is why it is known to deteriorate the general health significantly while negatively affecting the quality of life (QOL), it is also reported as the second most burdensome morbidity for HNCs. Studies have reported that laser therapy was able to manage oral complications effectively in cancer patients. The Objective of this study was to identify the effect of high power laser therapy (HPLT) on Radiotherapy induced Trismus (RTIT) in HNCs.

Methods: A total of forty four patients, diagnosed with RTIT were randomly allocated in 2 groups with 22 patients in each. Study group: received M6 laser therapy in combination with conventional exercises. Control group: received conventional exercises only. Visual Analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure pain level, the University of Washington Quality of life questionnaire (UW-QOL) was used to measure QOL, and the vernier caliper scale (VCS) was used to measure the amount of mouth mandibular opening (MMO) before and after physical therapy treatment sessions. 

Results: After HPLT a significant difference of all variables was found in patients group treated with HPLT along with TMJ exercises than conventional exercises group only, the UWQOL showed significant difference between the two groups in favor to the study group with (p<0.05), the VAS showed a significant reduction from 8.77 ± 0.81 to 2.31 ± 1.04 with (p<0.05) and a degree of enhancement of 73.66% compared to 16.22 in favor to the study group, the MMO showed significant difference for the study group with (p<0.05) and 85.56% enhancement compared to 37.11% for the control group. 

Conclusion: HPLT in combination with conventional TMJ exercises are more effective in treatment of RTIT than conventional exercises alone.