Prevention of self-inflicted trauma in comatose patients.

A solution to the problem of self-inflicted trauma to the tongue in decerebrate and comatose patients is outlined. The neurophysiology of jaw movement in the comatose patient is the basis of design of an intraoral fixed appliance which prevents discoordinate or neuropathologic mandibular chewing movements and facilitates healing of pre-existing lesions. Described in detail are the fabrication, insertion, and maintenance of this protective prosthesis, with emphasis on the need for joint effort between the neurosurgery and dentistry teams.