Real Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Swallowing and Speech in Patients Following Major Maxillofacial Surgery and Reconstruction

Oral & maxillofacial surgery concerns the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaw, face and neck. Many patients, in particular those with head/neck cancer or major trauma, have serious enduring post-operative problems; e.g. difficulty in swallowing and speech. These long-term problems lead to malnutrition, isolation and depression. The current less than optimum post-treatment support and management is in part due to a lack of suitable post-operative monitoring methodologies.
To improve the post-operative quality of life of such patients, this project will assess the safety/feasibility of using cutting edge real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of swallowing and speech. This bid will establish the methodological framework in healthy volunteers and begin engagement with clinicians and care providers; opening the door to longer term, individual care. This project represents the first steps towards a paradigm shift in the post-operative management of maxillofacial patients.