Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of active mandibular exercise(AME) in patients of limited mouth opening after maxillomandibular fixation(MMF) release.
Method: Nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. T...
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of active mandibular exercise(AME) in patients of limited mouth opening after maxillomandibular fixation(MMF) release.
Method: Nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The participants were 62 patients who had MMF release in P university hospital. Participants were selecteded sequentially by type of operation. Experimental group(n=31) performed AME for 4 weeks. AME consisted of maximal mouth opening, lateral excursion to right and left side and protrusive movement. It conducted ten times a day. After this, the numbers of tongue blade in maximal mouth opening were counted. The effect of AME were evaluated as soon as MMF release, After 2weeks, 4weeks, 12weeks by measuring maximal length of mouth opening, scoring pain at the time of maximal mouth opening, scoring discomfort when measuring maximal length of mouth opening, and everyday life related with mouth opening. Data were collected from July 2015 to March 2016, and were analyzed by chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA.
Result: Experimental group showed significantly improvement regarding the length of mouth opening, lower pain score, lower discomfort score. Everyday life related with mouth opening was more favorable compared to control group.
Conclusion: The active mandibular exercise in patients of MMF release would be helpful for mouth opening and everyday life related with mouth opening. So recommended as an effective nursing intervention.