Bisphosphonate therapy and ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: is there a relationship? A case report

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2014 Sep;118(3):e68-70. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2014.02.011. Epub 2014 Feb 22.

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are an effective class of drugs used for various pathologies of bone tissues such as osteoporosis and solid malignant metastatic disease. Although reports on adverse events such as bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw are common, ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint in an older patient that is possibly associated with bisphosphonate treatment has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. The patient, a 70-year-old woman with none of the usual causes for ankylosis, presented with bilateral ankylosis to the temporomandibular joints on a background of bisphosphonate treatment. No obvious etiologic factor for the bilateral ankylosis was found; thus, this might represent another complication of bisphosphonate therapy that dentists and physicians need to be aware of. The approach to management of the ankylosis is described.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alendronate / adverse effects*
  • Ankylosis / chemically induced*
  • Ankylosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Ankylosis / surgery
  • Diphosphonates / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Jaw Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Jaw Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Jaw Diseases / surgery
  • Radiography, Panoramic
  • Temporomandibular Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Temporomandibular Joint / drug effects*
  • Temporomandibular Joint / surgery

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Alendronate