Drug-related jaw osteonecrosis: a 6-year retrospective study from two centers in Argentina

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an adverse effect associated with the use of antiresorptive/antiangiogenic medications. Few observational studies have been conducted in South America. Our aim was to describe patients with MRONJ from Córdoba, Argentina, focusing on demographic, pharmacological, and serological variables, as well as associated risk factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving MRONJ patients who visited two Oral Medicine Departments between 2016 and 2022. Chi-square tests and Student t-tests were used to compare proportions in categorical and quantitative variables. Additionally, we provided a review of the literature from the last 10 years. Results: A total of 53 patients were included in the study. There was a female predominance in the osteoporosis group. The average duration of antiresorptive treatment for osteoporosis was 10.43 years. Zoledronate was statistically associated with the development of MRONJ. The mandible was more frequently affected than the maxilla. Tooth extraction was the most common triggering factor, accounting for 75% of cases. Additionally, 43.4% of the patients were diagnosed with Stage 1 MRONJ.

This subgroup of Argentinean MRONJ patients exhibits similar characteristics to those reported in studies worldwide. The development of MRONJ in osteoporotic females may be linked to inadequate control of antiresorptive therapy. It is essential for general dentists and physicians to recognize the risk of MRONJ in these individuals.