Questionnaire about Occurrence and Condition of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to survey the occurrence and condition of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). A questionnaire inquiring about clinical experience and the condition of patients with BRONJ was sent to 11 departments of oral and maxillofacial surgery in Nagano Prefecture, JAPAN.
By February 2009, 29 cases of BRONJ had been identified. Twenty patients had received intravenous bisphosphonates (BPs) and nine had received oral BPs. Eighty-three percent of the patients (24/29) were compromised by risk factors for BRONJ including concomitant cancer chemotherapy, steroid use, DM, smoking, etc. More than half of the patients (15/29) had a history of dental surgery during the treatment with BPs. Although all patients underwent conservative treatment and 11 of them also underwent surgical treatment for BRONJ, the clinical outcome was poor.