eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Head & Neck Surgery

Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible

Author: Remy H Blanchaert Jr, DDS, MD, Consulting Staff, Wesley Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Christopher M Harris, DMD, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Portsmouth Naval Hospital; Jonathan Bailey, MD, DMD, Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 20, 2008

Introduction

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a condition of nonvital bone in a site of radiation injury. ORN can be spontaneous, but it most commonly results from tissue injury. The absence of reserve reparative capacity is a result of the prior radiation injury. Even apparently innocuous forms of trauma such as denture-related injury, ulcers, or tooth extraction can overwhelm the reparative capacity of the radiation-injured bone. Traditionally, 3 grades of disease (I, II, III) are recognized. Grade I ORN is the most common presentation. Exposed alveolar bone is observed. Grade II designates ORN that does not respond to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy and requires sequestrectomy/saucerization. Grade III is demonstrated by full-thickness involvement and/or pathologic fracture. Therefore, patients can demonstrate grade I or grade III ORN at initial presentation.

Frequency

ORN is rare in patients who receive less than 60 gray (Gy) radiation therapy. Patients with ORN who receive less than 60 Gy and more than 50 Gy have been reported, but these cases are extremely rare. The overall incidence of ORN has decreased over the last 3 decades. In general, studies from prior to the 1970s showed an ORN incidence from 5.4-11.8%. More recent studies, however, have placed the incidence closer to 3.0%.1 The true frequency of ORN is impossible to determine because no mechanism exists for reporting the disease. Incidence is increased in patients who receive combined chemotherapy-radiation. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) requires their members to report radiation toxicity including ORN; however, the disease is probably under-reported.

More valuable than an understanding of frequency is an appreciation for the decrease in reparative capacity in tissue exposed to more than 60 Gy of radiation.

Etiology

ORN can be either spontaneous or the result of an insult. Spontaneous ORN occurs when, in the process of otherwise normal turnover of bone, the degradative function exceeds new bone production. ORN develops following injury when the reparative capacity of bone within an irradiated field is insufficient to overcome an insult. Bone injury can occur through direct trauma (eg, tooth extraction [84%], related cancer surgery or biopsy [12%], denture irritation [1%]) or by exposure of the irradiated bone to the hostile environment of the oral cavity secondary to overlying soft tissue necrosis. The cumulative progressive endarteritis caused by radiotherapy results in insufficient blood supply (tissue oxygen delivery) to effect normal wound healing.

Pathophysiology

ORN was first described by Marx in 1983 as hypovascularity, hypocellularity, and local tissue hypoxia.2,3 Prior to this, many other theories existed regarding the etiology of ORN. The report by Marx, clinical experience, and subsequent research support this now widely accepted theory.

The irradiated mandible, periosteum, and overlying soft tissue undergo hyperemia, inflammation, and endarteritis. These conditions ultimately lead to thrombosis, cellular death, progressive hypovascularity, and fibrosis. The radiated bed is hypocellular and devoid of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and undifferentiated osteocompetent cells.

Mandibular ORN develops most commonly after local trauma, such as dental extractions, biopsies, related cancer surgery, and periodontal procedures, but it may also occur spontaneously.

Presentation

Clinical symptoms include the following:

On physical examination, missing hair follicles, surface texture changes, and color changes are common findings that assist clinicians in assessment of the area of radiation injury.

Relevant Anatomy

In a histologic study of irradiated osteoradionecrotic mandibles, several characteristic changes were noted. The inferior alveolar artery (the predominant arterial blood supply to the body of the mandible) and periosteal arteries had significant intimal fibrosis and thrombosis. Normal marrow was replaced by dense fibrous tissue with loss of osteocytes. Finally, the study noted buccal cortical necrosis with sequestrum formation and periosteal fibrosis with a tendency to detach from the cortex.4  In the elderly, the inferior alveolar artery’s flow to the mandible diminishes and the periosteum and muscle attachments predominate as the primary blood supply. The thrombosis of the inferior alveolar artery and surgical disruption of this soft tissue blood supply may contribute to the development of osteoradionecrosis (ORN).

More on Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible

Overview: Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible
Workup: Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible
Treatment: Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible
Follow-up: Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible
Multimedia: Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible
References
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References

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  3. Marx RE. A new concept in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Jun 1983;41(6):351-7. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, ORN of the mandible, osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, ORN of the jaw, radiation injury of the mandible, radiation injury of the jaw, ORN, radiation injury, radiation-injured bone, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, HBO therapy, HBO

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Remy H Blanchaert Jr, DDS, MD, Consulting Staff, Wesley Medical Center
Remy H Blanchaert Jr, DDS, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Christopher M Harris, DMD, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jonathan Bailey, MD, DMD, Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

William M Lydiatt, MD, Professor and Division Director, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center
William M Lydiatt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, and Nebraska Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Nader Sadeghi, MD, FRCS(C), Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, George Washington University
Nader Sadeghi, MD, FRCS(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society, Federation of Medical Specialists in Quebec, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Advanced Headache Intervention Consulting fee Consulting; Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting

 
 
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