Osteoradionecrosis –Complication of the Complex Therapy of Orofacial Area

Overview

In a cohort of 144 patients treated for oral carcinomas in the years of 1997–2003at the Clinic of Oral, Jaw and Facial Surgery, Medical Faculty, Palacky University and FacultyHospital in Olomouc, the authors recorded 15 cases of osteoradionecroses (11%). The radiotherapyof these patients employed Co 60 at the dose of 54–77 Gy (eight patients) and X-rayradiation at a total dose of 56–73 Gy (seven patients). Most of the patients were affected bycarcinomas of oral floor and alveolar processus of mandible (10 patients).Conservative therapeutic procedures (lavages of fistulas and bone defects, systemic administrationof antibiotics) were successful in four patients. The remaining 7 patients were subjectedto surgical therapy, which was based on excisions of skin fistulas, egalization, or resection ofnecrotic parts of lower jaw. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used in 10 patients.

Key words:
osteoradionecrosis – therapy – prevention