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Assessing the effectiveness of Hospital-Based Manufactured Medical Device Restorabite for treatment of Trismus in adults after head and neck cancer surgery (Cohort 2)

Efficacy of Hospital-Based Manufactured Medical Device Restorabite for treatment of Trismus in adults after head and neck cancer surgery (Cohort 2).

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12625000200482
Enrollment
341
Registered
2025-02-20
Start date
2023-04-14
Completion date
2025-11-22
Last updated
2026-09-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This study aims to assess the efficacy of a "Restorabite" device to treat a disorder called trismus in head and neck cancer patients. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are an adult with, or who has had in the past, head and neck cancer, and has trouble opening your jaw wider than 35mm. Study details Patients will attend 10 x 1 hour weekly sessions with a speech pathologist, where they will be taken through passive and active jaw range of motion exercises. They will also be instructed to complete 20 minutes of home practice daily over the 10-week study period. Data on changes in jaw opening distance and quality of life will be collected. It is hoped that findings in this study help researchers determine optimal stretching regime for trismus treatment. Participation in this clinical trial is voluntary.

Interventions

The primary objective is to determine optimal exercise duration and force to treat Trismus. Description of Interventions: • Passive jaw range of motion exercises using Restorabite as per randomised Arm • Active jaw range of motion exercises using Restorabite as per randomised Arm • 10 x 1hr weekly sessions face to face or over telehealth with speech pathology. Gradual progression through the force hierarchy as clinically indicated. • Home practice: daily for 20 minutes for duration of study (10

The primary objective is to determine optimal exercise duration and force to treat Trismus. Description of Interventions: • Passive jaw range of motion exercises using Restorabite as per randomised Arm • Active jaw range of motion exercises using Restorabite as per randomised Arm • 10 x 1hr weekly sessions face to face or over telehealth with speech pathology. Gradual progression through the force hierarchy as clinically indicated. • Home practice: daily for 20 minutes for duration of study (10 weeks) Passive and active jaw range of motion exercises is a continuous exercise performed with Restorabite. It involves inserting the pressed down Restorabite between the front teeth and letting the device stretch the jaw (passive motion exercise) then bite down on the mouth guards (active motion exercise). Then repeat the letting go of the bite (passive motion exercise) and biting down on the device (active motion exercise). Participants will be given a Restorabite device and randomised to one of seven daily exercise programs (20 minutes daily). Arm 1. Low force for maximum of 30 seconds of 4 repetitions x 5 times with Restorabite Arm 2. Low force for maximum of 60 seconds of 2 repetitions x 5 times with Restorabite Arm 3. Low force for maximum of 120 seconds of 1 repetition x 5 times with Restorabite Arm 4. High force for maximum of 30 seconds of 4 repetitions x 5 times with Restorabite Arm 5. High force for maximum of 60 seconds of 2 repetitions x 5 times with Restorabite Arm 6. High force for maximum of 120 seconds of 1 repetition x 5 times with Restorabite Control. Stacked tongue depressor for maximum of 30 seconds of 5 repetitions x 5 times Low force is defined as maximum intensity of up to 30N (insert position 4 on Restorabite device) High force is defined as maximum intensity of up to 50N (insert position 8 on Restorabite device) Participants will be given a device, and the treatment will last for 10 weeks. Participants will be asked to attend 10 sessions of 1-hour weekly appointments with the speech pathologist. These appointments can be conducted either in person or via Telehealth. Follow up appointments will be required at 6 months and 12 months after the study treatment finishes. At the first and last appointments and 6 months and 12 months follow up appointments, participants will be asked to answer Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaires. Optional semi-structured interviews, using an interview guide, will be conducted with patients to evaluate their experiences using a device for trismus at the end of the intervention. These 30-60minute interviews will be conducted via video conferencing (Zoom) once during the course of the trial. To monitor adherence to the intervention speech pathologists will closely follow up participants. To increase the adherence to the intervention, speech pathologists will set up a 10-week appointment plan at the beginning of the trial and also offer tele-health appointments.

Sponsors

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Lead SponsorHospital

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years and older • Diagnosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) • Patients with an interincisal distance (IID) of 35mm or less • Willingness to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Patients where trismus therapy is contraindicated due to medical/surgical parameters, guided by their managing physician.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Sep 19, 2026