Aim: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) occurs after exposure to medication (antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents) for bone-related complications. It is more common in the mandible than in the maxilla. The present study investigated maxillary MRONJ in elderly patients through a meta-analysis.
Methods: Keywords, including "MRONJ", "maxilla", and "surgery", were entered into databases, including Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest, which were searched systematically.
Results: Investigating 77 studies, we found that 18 (2 case reports and 16 case series) papers conformed to the standards. The results revealed a 2.6:1 female-to-male ratio of disease occurrence. The average age of patients was 70.6 ± 5.5 years, and most patients were in the third stage (43.6%). The average time of medication usage was 50.0 ± 20.1 months. The pooled proportion of clinical efficacy of surgery was 86%.
Conclusion: To prevent and manage MRONJ, all elderly patients should maintain proper oral hygiene and receive dental examinations regularly. Risk assessment and safety management of MRONJ should be performed by medical teams.
Keywords: BRONJ; MRONJ; literature review; maxilla; recurrence; surgery.