October - December 2011, Volume 7, Issue 4

Bucur A, Nita T, Dinca O, Vladan C, Bucur MB

A Case Series of Osteoporosis Patients Affected by Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws

Acta Endo (Buc) 2011, 7 (4): 483-490
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2011.483

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) has been a rarely recognized condition. As the prescription of\r\noral bisphosphonates is universalized and the number of people treated with bisphosphonates is increasing, an accurate understanding and proper management of BRONJ are required.\r\nAim. Our aim was to describe the clinical features, treatments and prognosis of patients with oral bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.\r\nMaterials and Methods. In our study BRONJ is reported in 20 consecutive patients who received BP therapy for osteoporosis with different drug schedules. The length of therapy was 7-73 months before osteonecrosis was observed; in 16 patients BRONJ involved the mandible and in 4 the maxilla. Systemic co-morbidities were present in seven patients, namely, rheumatoid arthritis (20), diabetes mellitus type 2 (10%) and chronic anemia (5%).\r\nResults. Nine of the 14 patients who did not suspend BP therapy demonstrated decreased pain and a clinically significant improvement in function. By using the authors? case series of 20 patients, which are reported in the article and the authors? clinical orientation to evaluation and treatment of oral bisphosphonate-related\r\nosteonecrosis of the jaws are presented.

Keywords: bisphosphonates, osteonecrosis of the jaws

Correspondence: Alexandru Bucur, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest - Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Plevnei 17-21 Bucharest 010221, Romania, Email: crystalvladan@gmail.com