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BMC Infect Dis
. 2022 Jun 14;22(1):544.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07518-9.
Post-COVID-19 related osteonecrosis of the jaw (PC-RONJ): an alarming morbidity in COVID-19 surviving patients
Haytham Al-Mahalawy 1 2 , Yehia El-Mahallawy 3 , Noha Y Dessoky 4 , Sally Ibrahim 5 , Hatem Amer 6 , Haytham Mohamed Ayad 1 , Hagar Mahmoud El Sherif 7 , Alshaimaa Ahmed Shabaan 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 35701730
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07518-9
Abstract
Purpose: The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic mainly affects the respiratory system; however, several oral and maxillofacial post-COVID-19 complications have also been observed. This series reports the growing number of osteonecrosis cases associated with post-COVID-19 patients.
Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, multi-center case series that reports cases with maxillary osteonecrosis after various periods of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the period between January and August 2021 based on the PROCESS guidelines.
Results: Twelve cases were reported with post-COVID-19 manifestation of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the maxillary jaw. Five patients were hospitalized during COVID-19 management and all of the twelve cases had at least one systematic Co-morbidity, and undertake corticosteroids prescription based on the COVID-19 disease treatment protocol. The mean onset of osteonecrosis symptoms appearance was 5.5 ± 2.43 weeks calculated from the day of the negative PCR test. The management was successfully done through surgical debridement and pre and post-operative antibiotics. No anti-fungal medications were prescribed as the fungal culture and the histopathological report were negative.
Conclusion: Post-COVID-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (PC-RONJ) could be now considered as one of the potential post-COVID-19 oral and maxillofacial complications that occurs unprovokedly and mainly in the maxilla.
Keywords: Avascular necrosis; Maxilla; Osteonecrosis; Post-COVID.
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