Bisphosphonate-treatment of secondary chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw – a case report

Secondary chronic osteomyelitis (SCO) is caused by bacterial infection leading to progressive jawbone destruction. Antibiotics are used as first-line treatment; surgical therapy is usually extensive and may not provide a cure. Bisphosphonates have been reported to be successful in patients with primary nonbacterial osteomyelitis, and literature indicates promising results in SCO. A 38-year-old patient presented with a progressive mandible-destruction 17 years after wisdom tooth extraction. Several treatment attempts have been unsuccessful. Seeking a second opinion, the patient was then interdisciplinary treated with 90 mg of intravenous pamidronate every four weeks, three times. The patient did not experience side effects presenting a considerable improvement in mouth opening and reporting a dissolvent of signs of pain or infection. The MRI showed edema reduction and decreased contrast uptake. Therefore, bisphosphonate treatment of secondary chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw is a safe and effective option in selected cases after unsuccessful first- and second-line therapy.