[Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. Apropos of 7 cases]

Jaw osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is one of the most serious complications of cervico-facial cancer irradiation. Severity is related to major bone lysis and the difficult medical and surgical treatment. We report our experience in seven cases over a ten-year period. Mandibular localization was predominant (85%). The mean age of the patients was 36 years. The average delay to development of ORN was 5.5 years. The treatment was medico-surgical, based on wide surgical exeresis (6/7), frequently via endobuccal surgical approach (4/7). Prevention remains the best treatment of ORN associated with an accurate management of all patients who need radiotherapy.