Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the application effect of goal attainment theory-based interventions in improving rehabilitation outcomes for patients with jaw fractures, and to provide a basis for optimizing clinical rehabilitation protofiles. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with jaw fractures admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected as the control group, and 30 patients admitted from January 2024 to December 2024 as the intervention group. Both groups underwent open reduction and rigid internal fixation with titanium plates. The control group received routine rehabilitation treatment, while the intervention group received rehabilitation treatment guided by the goal attainment theory. Differences in surgical indicators, masticatory ability, tooth bite force, quality of life, and mental health were compared between the two groups. Results: The length of hospital stay and fracture healing time in the intervention group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P<0.01), while there were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or operation time between the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 months postoperatively, the masticatory function, tooth bite force, and SF-36 quality of life scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), but no significant differences were observed in these indicators between the two groups at 6 months postoperatively(P>0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, the scores of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD), plaque index(PI), debris index(DI), gingival index(GI), and sulcus bleeding index(SBI) in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The total incidence of complications in the intervention group(3.33%) was significantly lower than that in the control group(10.00%). CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation intervention guided by the goal attainment theory can shorten the rehabilitation cycle of patients with jaw fractures, improve masticatory function and quality of life in the early stage, alleviate negative emotions, optimize oral hygiene status and reduce the risk of complications.

Key words: Jaw fracture, Goal attainment theory, Rehabilitation treatment, Masticatory function, Quality of life, Mental health