Journal Information
Vol. 16. Issue 1.
Pages 62-63 (January - February 2020)
Vol. 16. Issue 1.
Pages 62-63 (January - February 2020)
Images in Clinical Rheumatology
Full text access
Bilateral pathologic mandibular fracture in maxillary osteonecrosis induced by bisphosphonates
Fractura patológica mandibular bilateral en osteonecrosis maxilar inducida por bisfosfonatos
Visits
3086
Jose Darío Sánchez López
Corresponding author
, Paolo Cariati, Miguel Angel Perez de Perveval Tara
Servicio de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, Spain
This item has received
Article information
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Figures (1)
Full Text

We present the case of a 75 year old patient with a history of heavy smoking (20 cigarettes per day over 15 years) and poor oral hygiene, diagnosed with advanced EIV (cT4N2bMx) epidermoid cancer of the breast in 2009, who underwent surgery (quadrantectomy and homolateral axillary clearance) with complementary radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. On suspicion of the cancer spreading to the bone, treatment with zoledronic acid (Zometa®), an intravenous biphosphonate was initiated, at a dose of 4mg/3 months until 2014.1

In 2015, with no other precipitating factors (for example oral surgery), active intraoral discharge was clinically detected and exposure of the intraoral necrotic bone. Panoramic radiograph was performed which showed bilateral mandibular non displaced fracture (Fig. 1). At the moment, following antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin 1g/8h and daily mouth rinses every 8h with 2% chlorhexidine, clinical evolution has been stable, without any fragment displacement that requires surgery.

Fig. 1.

Image showing the bilateral fracture of the jaw in a mandibular osteonecrosis induced by biphosphonate (the 2 arrows mark the fracture lines).

(0.07MB).

There are many mechanisms of action of biphosphonates, including: reduction of bone reabsorption due to the inhibition of the osteclastic activity, induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts, antiangiogenic action and alteration of physiological bone remodelling.2 These actions on the bone lead to fragility and incapacity for repairing microfractures due to repetitive stress which, associated with terminal irrigation of the lower jaw, turns this area into a region which is liable to suffer osteonecrosis and in exceptional cases, pathological fractures.3

There are currently 4 stages to classify mandibular osteonecrosis according to the regulations established by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons,4 with our case presented here corresponding to stage four. The case presented appears to prove that individual patient factors, combined with the characteristics of the biphosphonate used (zoledronic acid), the intravenous administration and prolonged administration, as well as its high potency,5,6 were the predisposing factors for the appearance of massive osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Conflict of interests

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

References
[1]
S. Dhesy-Thind, G.G. Fletcher, P.S. Blanchette, M.J. Clemons, M.S. Dillmon, E.S. Frank, et al.
Use of adjuvant bisphosphonates and other bone-modifying agents in breast cancer: a Cancer Care Ontario and American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline.
J Clin Oncol, 35 (2017), pp. 2062-2081
[2]
T. Nakano, M. Yamamoto, J. Hashimoto, M. Tobinai, S. Yoshida, T. Nakamura.
Higher response with bone mineral density increase with monthly injectable ibandronate 1mg compared with oral risedronate in the MOVER study.
J Bone Miner Metab, 34 (2016), pp. 678-684
[3]
T. Mücke, C.R. Krestan, D.A. Mitchell, J.S. Kirschke, A. Wutzl.
Bisphosphonate and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a review.
Semin Musculoskelet Radiol, 20 (2016), pp. 305-314
[4]
S. Ruggiero, T. Dodson, J. Fantasia, R. Goodday, T. Aghaloo, B. Mehrotra, et al.
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons position paper on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw-2014 update.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 72 (2014), pp. 1938-1956
[5]
L. Bagan, Y. Jiménez, M. Leopoldo, J. Murillo-Cortes, J. Bagan.
Exposed necrotic bone in 183 patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: associated clinical characteristics.
Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 22 (2017), pp. e582-e585
[6]
M. Manfredi, G. Mergoni, M. Goldoni, S. Salvagni, E. Merigo, M. Meleti, et al.
A 5-year retrospective longitudinal study on the incidence and the risk factors of osteonecrosis of the jaws in patients treated with zoledronic acid for bone metastases from solid tumors.
Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 22 (2017), pp. e342-e348

Please cite this article as: Sánchez López JD, Cariati P, Perez de Perveval Tara MA. Fractura patológica mandibular bilateral en osteonecrosis maxilar inducida por bisfosfonatos. Reumatol Clin. 2020;16:62–63.

Copyright © 2018. Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología
Idiomas
Reumatología Clínica (English Edition)
Article options
Tools
es en

¿Es usted profesional sanitario apto para prescribir o dispensar medicamentos?

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?