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Current prospective management of patients with osteonecrosis drug-induced (bisphosphonates) of the jaws: our experience
BMC Geriatrics volume 10, Article number: A60 (2010)
Background
Bisphosphonates (BP) are frequently used for the treatment of multiple myeloma, bone metastasis and for osteoporosis, the most used are Alendronic and Zolendronic acids (1). This type of drugs, especially Zolendronic acid, pointed out a serious side effect: ostenecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). It is demonstrated they reduce bone turn-over and induce apoptosis of the osteoclasts. BP have remarkable ability of anti-angiogenesis, that together to micro-traumas and inflammations, it can be a contributory cause of the ONJ onset.
Patients can remain asymptomatic even for a long time, but secondary infection of the bone exposed due to teeth extraction or other surgical procedures cause pain (2), soft tissue swelling, purulent collections that can drain in the mouth or outside.
Materials and methods
In Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, from January 2003 to September 2009, it has been observed 84 patients with ONJ. 56 are included in our screening program: 50 patients were treated for cancer with acid Zolendronic, 6 for osteoporosis with Alendronic acid; the ONJ location was in the 24 pz (43%) the upper jaw, in 30 (54%) the mandible, in 2 (3 %) both. ONJ developed in 31 pz (54%) after tooth extraction, in 15 (28%) due to dental prosthesis micro-traumas, in 10 (18%) it was spontaneous. Following the AAOMFS classification (Table 1), 5 patients (8,9%) were in stage Ia, 2 (3,6%) in stage Ib, 22 (39,3%) in stage IIa, 4 (7,2%) in stage IIb, 12 (21,4%) in stage IIIa, 11 (19,6%) were IIIb.
Conclusions
To date management of ONJ patients is difficult for the prognosis and therapy, expecially for several cases.
References
Marx RE, Swatari Y, Fortin M, et al: Bisphosphonate-induced exposed bone (osteonecrosis/ osteoporosis) of the jaws: Risk factor, recognition, prevention and treatment. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2005, 63: 1567-10.1016/j.joms.2005.07.010.
Vescovi P, Manfredi M, Merigo E, Meleti M: Early surgical approach preferable to medical therapy for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008, 66 (4): 831-2. 10.1016/j.joms.2007.11.025.
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Giudice, M., Cristofaro, M.G. Current prospective management of patients with osteonecrosis drug-induced (bisphosphonates) of the jaws: our experience. BMC Geriatr 10 (Suppl 1), A60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-S1-A60
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-S1-A60