Trismus
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2] Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.
Overview
Overview
Trismus (also known as lock jaw) is the inability to normally open the mouth due to one of many causes.
Causes
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
- Acute osteomyelitis
- Coral snake poisoning
- Dental tissue neoplasm
- Fibrosis
- Funnel web spider poisoning
- Horseshoe crab poisoning
Common Causes
- Acute osteomyelitis
- Ankylosis
- Condylar fracture
- Gaucher disease
- Local anesthesia
- Pericoronitis
- Inflammation of mastication muscles
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Radiation therapy
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Tetanus
Causes by Organ System
Causes in Alphabetical Order
- Acetaminophen
- Acute parotitis
- Acute osteomyelitis
- Amphetamine
- Ankylosis
- Arthritis
- Arthrogryposis
- Broken jaw
- Burns
- Clostridium tetani
- Condylar fracture
- Coral snake poisoning
- Coronoid hyperplasia
- Crisponi syndrome
- Damage to the trigeminal nerve
- Dental caries
- Dental tissue neoplasm
- Drug associated dyskinesia
- Epidermolysis bullosa
- Facial neuralgia
- Facial pain
- Facial trauma
- Fibrosis
- Fractured mandibular condyle
- Funnel web spider poisoning
- Gaucher disease
- Hematoma of medial pterygoid
- Horseshoe crab poisoning
- Hypocalcemia
- Hysteria
- Idiopathic orofacial dystonia
- Iida-kannari syndrome
- Impacted wisdom tooth
- Infection
- Jaw ankylosis
- Jaw pain
- Local anesthesia
- Local malignancy
- Ludwig angina
- Malignant hyperpyrexia
- Malingering
- Mastication muscle inflammation
- Mdma
- Medial pterygoid
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
- Mumps
- Myofascial pain
- Myositis
- Neuroleptics
- Odontogenic infection
- Oral submucous fibrosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteophyte formation
- Pericoronitis
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Perphenazine
- Post surgical edema
- Prolonged dental treatment
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Quinsy
- Rabies
- Radiation fibrosis
- Radiation therapy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Seizure disorder
- Septic arthritis
- Stroke
- Strychnine
- Submasseteric abscess
- Submucous fibrosis
- Supraglottic laryngeal cancer
- Surgery
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Systemic sclerosis
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Tetanus
- Tonsillitis
- Trauma
- Traumatic synovitis
- Trichinella spiralis
- Trichiniasis
- Trismus pseudocamptodactyly syndrome
- Tumors
Treatment
Treatment
Treatment requires treating the underlying condition. Additionally, control of symptoms with pain medications (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and warm compresses may be used. In the management of trismus, therapeutic approaches are tailored to address the underlying cause. The primary treatment strategy involves symptomatic relief. Common interventions during the acute phase include the application of **heat therapy**, the use of analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and muscle relaxants. Heat therapy typically involves the placement of moist, heated towels on the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes each hour. For pain relief, aspirin is often deemed adequate. In cases where muscle relaxation is necessary, a benzodiazepine like diazepam may be prescribed, with dosages ranging from 2.5 to 5 milligrams taken thrice daily. Additionally, healthcare providers may recommend a soft diet to patients for the duration of the condition. [1]
References
References
- ↑ Santiago-Rosado LM, Lewison CS. Trismus. [Updated 2022 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493203/
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