Treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw related to bisphosphonates and other antiresorptive agents

BACKGROUND: The clinical management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in patients treated with bisphosphonates and other antiresorptive agents is subject to controversy. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has developed guidelines for the correct management of the disorder which are revised and updated by a panel of experts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present systematic review analyzes the different treatments currently used to treat this clinical condition, based on the PRISMA® (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement published in 2009. An electronic Medline search was made of the PubMed database, covering the period 2006-2014. The last search date was 31 December 2014. RESULTS: A total of 29 articles were selected from the initial search according to the different drugs implicated in the appearance of osteonecrosis; the treatment modality used according to the stage of the disease; and the recorded success rate. CONCLUSIONS: It is currently still recommended that the management of MRONJ should be decided according to the stage of the disease – conservative treatment being preferred in early stages without symptoms, while surgical management is preferred in the case of bone exposure with symptoms. Key words:Osteonecrosis, medication, bisphosphonates, treatments, review