Prevalence of Trismus in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Kerala, South India

Gopi B Krishna; Radhu Raj; Anju James; Nitin A Krishnan; Subramaniam Iyer; Anil Mathew; Chandrashekar Janakiram

doi:10.7759/cureus.75593

Prevalence of Trismus in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Kerala, South India

Cureus. 2024 Dec 12;16(12):e75593. doi: 10.7759/cureus.75593. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Authors

Gopi B Krishna¹, Radhu Raj², Anju James¹, Nitin A Krishnan³, Subramaniam Iyer⁴, Anil Mathew², Chandrashekar Janakiram¹

Affiliations

¹ Public Health Dentistry, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, IND.
² Prosthodontics and Implantology, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, IND.
³ Oral Medicine and Radiology, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, IND.
⁴ Head and Neck Surgery, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, IND.

Abstract

Introduction: Trismus is a common complication of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment. Understanding its prevalence and its risk factors is vital for enhancing clinical outcomes and the overall quality of life of these patients.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with trismus among HNC patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Kerala, from January 2024 to April 2024. A total of 162 patient records were included in the study. Mouth opening ≤ 35 mm is considered trismus.

Results: Prevalence of trismus was 77 (46.9%). Gender, age group, smokeless tobacco use, tumor area, and bone involvement are the factors associated with the development of trismus (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Nearly 50% of HNC patients develop trismus. Understanding the factors associated with trismus will aid in effectively managing patients and thereby improving patient outcomes.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; oral cancer; prevalence; risk factors; trismus.