Biphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: Clinical and physiopathological considerations

Alberto Borgioli¹, Christian Viviani¹, Marco Duvina¹, Leila Brancato¹, Giuseppe Spinelli¹, Maria Luisa Brandi^2,3, Paolo Tonelli^1
1Department of Odontostomatology, Dental School; ²Department of Internal Medicine; ³DeGene Spin-off, Medical School, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Abstract: Since osteonecrosis of the jaw was related to biphosphonate administration by Marx, studies showing clinical symptoms, drug and surgical therapies overwhelmed the literature. Furthermore, the literature demonstrated the correlation between chronic biphosphonate adsumption and osteonecrosis of the jaw onset. Nitrogen-containing biphosphonates are widely used for the management of metastatic cancer, for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, for the treatment of Paget’s disease, and for the management of acute hypercalcemia. According to our experience, the treatment of BRON-J’s lesions is difficult and prolonged. For this reason, in order to avoid these complications it is mandatory to perform a risk staging in patients who must undergo biphosphonate administration. When pharmacologic treatments with antibiotics and local antiseptics are not able to control the development of BRON-J’s complications, the clinicians should perform radical surgical treatments such as the resection of the bone involved.

Keywords: osteonecrosis of the jaw, biphosphonates, BRON-J