Prevention of Mandible Fractures in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: The Role of Virtual Surgical Planning and Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing in Two Clinical Case Reports

Abstract

Background: Marginal mandible resection is required to achieve healing in some cases of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Despite the sparsity of the literature, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials may provide superior outcomes for patients with an increased risk of mandible fracture. The aim of this study was to report a digital workflow for surgical interventions to prevent mandible fracture in MRONJ patients. Methods: We present two cases in which virtual surgical planning (VSP) and CAD/CAM surgical guides and reconstruction plates were used to prevent mandible fractures in elderly MRONJ patients submitted for marginal resection. Two osteoporotic patients, aged 73 and 84 years, presented with stage 3 MRONJ of the right mandibular body with inferior alveolar nerve involvement. The unaffected bone height was 6 mm in both cases, implying a high risk of mandible fracture. After preoperative VSP, surgery was performed through a combined intraoral–transbuccal approach. CAD/CAM-customized cutting guides and reconstruction plates were used for the marginal resection of necrotic bone and internal fixation. Results: Complete healing was achieved and the patients remained asymptomatic up to 1 year post-surgery. Conclusions: VSP and CAD/CAM-customized materials facilitated the complete resection of necrotic bone and rigid fixation in MRONJ patients, allowing a simplified approach with shorter operative times, reduced morbidity, and predictable results.

Keywords

• osteonecrosis
• bisphosphonates
• denosumab
• fracture
• reconstruction
• CAD/CAM