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What Is Osteonecrosis?

The word osteonecrosis is derived from two root combining word forms. Osteo comes from the Greek word meaning bone. Necrosis also comes from Greek and means deadness. Necrosis is a biological process of the breakdown and death of bone tissue by lack of blood flow to the bone. Osteonecrosis, therefore, means the death of bone.

When used with “jaw,” osteonecrosis of the jaw refers to the dying and death of jaw bone tissue. This may be called dead jaw or ONJ.

Fosamax®, a bisphosphonate medication to help build stronger bones, has been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw, or jaw bone death.

Symptoms of Osteonecrosis

As they relate to the jaw, osteonecrosis symptoms include:

• Pain in the jaw, usually the mandible (lower jaw)
• Swelling of tissue around the jaw
• Drainage
• Loosening of the teeth
• Infection of tissue around the jaw
• Exposed jaw bone

Causes Of Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis results from restricted blood flow to joint bones. Not all reasons for this happening are known. The primary known causes of osteonecrosis are:

• Alcohol use
• Steroid medications such as prednisone
• Injury to the bone
• Increased pressure inside the bone

Fosamax® use has also been found to be related to osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Osteonecrosis Treatment

Treatment is aimed at preventing further breakdown of bone tissue. In the case of dead jaw, treatment would be to stop the breakdown of jaw tissue. If Fosamax® is found to be the cause of dead jaw, use of Fosamax® should be stopped.

If someone has osteonecrosis and is not treated, he or she will have severe pain and limited movement in two years from the start of symptoms.

In addition to stopping Fosamax®, ONJ patients can include surgery and the use of antibiotics. Maintenance of good oral hygiene is important.

Long-Term Effects of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

A recent study in the journal Supportive Oncology reports that minimal dental intervention is the best course of treatment. Sequestrectomy (surgically removing the dead bone tissue that has separated from the healthy bone), removal of dead bone tissue adhering to the healthy bone, and antibiotics were found to work the best. Of 22 patients treated with this approach, the wound tissue of 14 healed well and there was no pain. Five patients had a recurrence of the disorder within two months. Statistics on three patients were not known.

For more information about osteonecrosis, or to speak with an osteonecrosis attorney about your circumstances, contact us today. You may qualify for a financial recovery if your injury is linked to use of this medication.