I am wondering if there is anyone who has had surgery for trismus. My husband's jaw is very tight due to radiation. His last treatment of radiation/chemo was two years ago. The great thing is he is cancer free. The unfortunate thing is he has severe trismus from the treatment and can only open his mouth enough to drink liquids. He hasn't eaten solid food for two years. He is scheduled for surgery on August 25th. The doctors are going to cut away the muscles from the bones in his jaw and wrap fat from his arm around the bone. They are also going to put in flaps from his forearm. It is a 10-12 hour surgery. There is about a 50/50 chance that the surgery will work and the jaw will not close.

I would appreciate any information you may have on this type of surgery and if anyone has had this surgery and the outcome.

Thanks so much,

Maribeth

Maribeth,

Congratulations on your husband being cancer free for 2 years! I don't have any information on this type of surgery but wanted you to know that I'll be praying that the odds after surgery of it being a success will be much higher than 50/50. I had a total glossectomy, right/left neck dissection, chemo and 37 rad treatments but I'm fortunate in that I can open my mouth just about as wide as I did before surgery / treatments. Good luck on the 25th and I'll be thinking of you both.

Nancy