mohammad alsehimy

ABSTRACT :
There is a paucity of recent data regarding osteomyelitis of the jaws (OMJ) particularly in Saudi population . Patients with inflammation of the jaw attended King Abdulaziz University Hospital , Faculty of dentistry oral surgery clinics and many medical centers in , Jeddah , KSA from Jan. 1990 - Dec. 2010 underwent retrospective chart review with regard of OMJ to assess the encountered risk factors . Forty-two patients , out of one thousand charted in such period , met the criteria for OMJ (37 definite, 5 probable). Mean age was 58 years. Most common risk factors associated with OMJ were tooth extraction, orofacial malignancy and radiotherapy. Most common symptoms were pain, exposed bone/plate and cheek swelling. Aerobic (GP 84%, GN 42%) and anaerobic (GP 53%, GN 27%) bacteria were identified. Thirty four % of patients received > 4 weeks of IV antibiotics. Five patients achieved full recovery. Limited recovery was associated with orofacial malignancy and radiotherapy ( p = 0.06 ). Radiotherapy for orofacial malignancy has emerged as major risk factor associated with OMJ. Only orofacial malignancy and radiotherapy predicted limited recovery. Length of antibiotic therapy or hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) did not predict treatment outcome. ( DSR grant no.462 / 165 / 1431) .