WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw may be effectively treated by a laser bone ablation technique, according to research published in the January issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Stefan Stubinger, D.D.S., of the University of Basal in Switzerland, and colleagues reported the preliminary results of this new laser-assisted treatment option in eight tumor patients. All patients had bony lesions in the maxilla and mandible resulting from a course of intravenous bisphosphonate therapy. Patients were treated with a variable square pulsed Er:YAG laser. The entire diseased bone was abolished with the Er:YAG laser by repeatedly sweeping the bone surface.
All patients experienced the surgical procedure and subsequent wound healing without any complications, the report indicates. Only one patient experienced re-opening of their wound closure. Complete soft tissue recovery was achieved within four weeks, and remained stable over a one-year follow-up period. The researchers note that the laser therapy induced a "characteristic microstructured and craggy bone surface," but no condensation or smear layer was apparent on the laser rims.
The authors conclude that this study "should now be an incentive for clinicians and scientists to further analyze the chemical, physical and pharmacological aspects of laser application in the field of bone and mineralized tissue research to understand the biological interactions and to eventually come to a safe and reliable treatment option for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw."
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