Article

A pilot study - Patients with oral floor cancer often have difficulty swallowing solid foods. The
aim of this study was to improve the propulsion of solid foods using a swallowing
appliance (SW-A). Subjects comprised three patients with oral floor cancer who
had undergone curative surgery. Each participant was asked to swallow gelatin
under three conditions: without an SW-A, with a maxillary SW-A, and with both
maxillary and mandibular SW-As. This procedure was repeated thrice with three
volumes of gelatin (2.5, 5, and 7.5 ml), with videofluorographic swallowing
study. Swallowing was assessed on the basis of whether the participant could
propel the gelatin from the oral cavity to the pharynx. No subject could propel
2.5 ml of gelatin to the pharynx without an SW-A or with only a maxillary SW-A in
place. When both SW-As were used, all subjects could propel all three volumes of
gelatin. The mandibular SW-A complemented the compensatory effects of the
maxillary SW-A.

Langue : ANGLAIS