title: The outcome after surgical therapy of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw--results of a clinical case series with an average follow-up of 20 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present case series evaluates the success rate of osteotomy and primary wound closure in patients with bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients suffering from BRONJ were included in the study. All patients received intravenous bisphosphonate therapy and underwent osteotomy and primary wound closure according to a standardised protocol. After discharge, the patients were reviewed on a regular basis over an average time period of 20 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up in 11 patients, a recurrence of BRONJ occurred in the former operation field. Seventeen patients died due to their underlying disease. The success rate of osteotomy and primary wound closure in the treatment of BRONJ was calculated at 84.2 % 20 months after surgery. The results showed non-significant difference concerning the outcome of surgery in the different clinical stages of BRONJ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In accordance with previous studies, stage-independent osteotomy and primary wound closure combined with antibiotics shall be deemed a viable treatment option in patients suffering from BRONJ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a high success rate, osteotomy in combination with primary wound closure seems to be a viable alternative to more conservative protocols in the treatment of BRONJ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. Philipp.Stockmann@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stockmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Wilmowsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebker
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauersachs
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Emeka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nkenke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich Wilhelm
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Neukam
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glückstrasse 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wehrhan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059266:Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome