Osteonecrosis of the jaws in 194 patients who have undergone intravenous bisphosphonate therapy in Spain.

Background: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a destructive bone process in patients undergoing bisphosphonate therapy and it is modulated by local and systemic factors. The purpose of this article is to determine the prevalence of ONJ in patients who have undergone intravenous bisphosphonate therapy, and relate the risk factors described to establish a protocol to reduce the risk of developing ONJ. Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 194 patients treated with IV bisphosponates, analyzing clinical and pathological variables. Results: The prevalence of ONJ was 12.9 %. The most remarkable complication was pain, which was reported by 80% of patients. The average age of …