Physiotherapy for Trismus Using Rocabado Exercises Following Mandibulectomy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Lip: A Case Report

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity. Since it spreads and metastasizes more quickly than any other form of glabrous skin carcinoma, SCC of the lips seems to be more harmful. This report highlights the case of a 67-year-old man who underwent a mandibulectomy for lip SCC, subsequently having complaints of severe trismus and jaw pain, dysarthria, and difficulty drinking water. The patient's symptoms and trismus improved significantly via a course of physiotherapy. Six weeks of physiotherapy with various interventions such as mouth opening and closing exercises along with tongue protrusion, lower limb and upper limb passive movements, breathing exercises, lower limb mobility exercises, speech therapy, static shoulder exercises, static gluteus exercises, static hamstring exercise, and static quadriceps exercises, shoulder shrugs, neck isometrics, and shoulder-scapular sets, including goldfish exercises and Rocabado exercises may be helpful for managing symptoms such as trismus and other associative problems such as maintaining circulation and avoiding compensatory posture, pulmonary complications, and secondary complications, which may be helpful for managing the patient after mandibulectomy.