Causes Of Trismus

Head And Throat Cancer Radiation

The Oral Cancer Foundation states between ten and forty percent of patients who receive head and throat cancer radiation therapy experience trismus during their treatment. Trismus happens most frequently in individuals who receive radiation therapy for cancer of the jaw. This specific treatment causes damage and scar tissue around the jaw joint, making it more susceptible to pain in the jaw. During radiation, the muscles in the temporomandibular joint, masseter muscles, and pterygoid muscles become affected. All three of these muscles are required to chew comfortably and thoroughly chew food. Radiation of the jaw causes fibrosis of the chewing muscles, which is somewhat like having scar tissue in this area. This tissue causes problems with the way the mouth opens and also causes trismus.

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