[Recent advances in the therapy of osteoradionecrosis of the maxillomandibular bones (author's transl)].

In spite of the considerable technical progress made over the last few years, no type of irradiation used at the present time for treating malignant tumors in the maxillofacial region can protect the patient from the always dreaded appearance of a secondary osteoradionecrosis of the maxillomandibular bones. Extablished osteoradionecrosis is not a "true" necrosis of these bones but a particularly severe osteitis which evolves in bone, which is pathological because it has been irradiated, and is surrounded by tissues which are also pathological for the same reason. Very high doses of antibiotics, comparable to those used in the treatment of osteomyelitis, mandibular resection by the endobuccal route, and the possibility of treating perimaxillomandibular tissues by reconstructive surgery, have completely transformed the prognosis of this dreaded affection, which is being increasingly prevented by daily fluoride applications applied locally.