Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible: treatment outcomes and factors influencing the progress of osteoradionecrosis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to evaluate our recent experience with mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and to identify factors that contribute to its progress.


METHODS
The medical records of 114 patients who had been treated for ORN during a 16-year period (1989 to 2004) were reviewed. The patients were then divided into 2 groups according to their response to conservative treatment. Group 1 consisted of patients whose ORN resolved with conservative treatment (n = 47). Group 2 consisted of patients whose ORN was unresolved with conservative treatment or who had required radical resection of the involved tissue (n = 67). The information was obtained from the medical records of the patients and analyzed.


RESULTS
The patients whose ORN was associated with an early-stage tumor or preirradiation extraction had a favorable response to conservative treatment. However, those who had an advanced primary tumor, had continued smoking and drinking after radiotherapy, had received palliative radiotherapy or a radiation dose of more than 6,000 rads, and who had an orocutaneous fistula, a pathologic fracture, swelling, or trismus had a poor response to conservative treatment. In these latter cases, radical resection of the involved tissue proved useful.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study have indicated that several factors (ie, the stage of the primary tumor, signs of ORN) can influence the progress of ORN. Our results suggest that radical resection is a useful method for treating mandibular ORN that does not respond to conservative treatment.
Oh
Hee-Kyun
HK
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, 2nd Stage of Brain Korea 21, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
Chambers
Mark S
MS
Martin
Jack W
JW
Lim
Hoi-Jeong
HJ
Park
Hong-Ju
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome