Osteopetrosis complicated by osteomyelitis of the mandible: a case report including gross and microscopic findings

Extensive maxillary osteomyelitis following tooth extraction in a patient with osteopetrosis

Osteopetrosis (OP), also known as marble bone disease is an extremely rare inherited skeletal disorder, characterised by abnormal functioning of the osteoclasts that results in incremental bone deposition with lack of normal bone remodelling. This leads to the formation of hard and brittle bone can readily fracture. The compromised quality of marrow tissue with poor vascularity reduces bone healing and increases the risk of infections. The risk of jawbone osteomyelitis in patients with OP is high and invariably involves mandible. Involvement of maxilla is rare and has been sparingly reported in the literature. This paper highlights a case of extensive necrosis of maxilla and mid-face skeleton following tooth extraction in a patient with OP. Review of the English literature identifying 23 previously published reports of maxillary osteomyelitis in patients with OP is also presented. Demographic details, history of tooth extraction, extent of involvement, clinical presentation, imaging finding, treatment provided and the outcome have been discussed.

Ultrastructural Analyses of Alveolar Bone in a Patient With Osteomyelitis Secondary to Osteopetrosis: A Review of the Literature

Osteopetrosis is a generic term for generalized sclerotic conditions caused by rare genetic disorders. Decreased osteoclastic activities disturb bone remodeling, resulting in greater mineral density and greater compressive strength; therefore, bone fracture is a major physical symptom of osteopetrosis. Osteomyelitis of the maxilla or mandible is a common and well-documented complication of osteopetrosis. Local infection, such as odontogenic infection, is more likely to lead to osteomyelitis, and treatment strategies can be challenging. However, detailed ultrastructural analyses of bone from patients with osteopetrosis and odontogenic infection are limited. This report describes a case of osteomyelitis of the maxilla and mandible secondary to osteopetrosis in an adult patient and presents ultrastructural data of alveolar bone tissue analyzed by contact microradiography, electron probe microanalysis, and x-ray diffraction. Cases of osteomyelitis of the jaw secondary to osteopetrosis also are reviewed.

Osteopetrosis complicated by osteomyelitis of the maxilla and mandible: light and electron microscopic findings

This report presents a case of osteopetrosis in a 25-year-old male, which was complicated by the development of osteomyelitis in the maxilla and mandible following traumatic injury and tooth extractions. The osteomyelitis in the mandible was refractory to marginal resection and antibiotic therapy. Partial resection with mandible reconstruction was then carried out. Light and backscattered electron scanning microscopy revealed sclerosis of spongy bone and variations in mineral density of the bone matrix. There was also a prominent periosteal bone formation in regions affected by osteomyelitis. An 18-month follow-up showed absence of active infections in the face and oral structures, with a focal area of bone exposure in the right parasymphysis. However, development of anemia and bone marrow deficiency will likely affect prognosis. The importance of preventive oral health care and dental/periodontal managements in osteopetrosis is emphasized.

Maxillomandibular osteomyelitis in osteopetrosis. Report of a case and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Osteopetrosis is a rare hereditary group of bony displasias. They range from a devastating metabolic disease (including severe malignant infantile osteopetrosis) to other conditions with a more benign phenotype (autosomal dominant osteopetrosis I and II).

CASE REPORT

Several case reports have been published of infectious complications affecting the mandible but maxillary affectation is quite rare. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with a malignant recessive form of osteopetrosis complicated by repeated episodes of osteomyelitis (caused by actinomyces) of the mandible and maxilla.

Osteopetrosis complicated by osteomyelitis of the mandible: a case report including characterization of the osteopetrotic bone

A case of a 53-year-old Japanese man with osteopetrosis complicated by osteomyelitis of the mandible is presented. The patient experienced frequent exacerbations and remissions of osteomyelitis of the mandible, despite undergoing several surgical debridements and sequesterectomies with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, for 3 years. Finally, the patient underwent mandibular segmental resection followed by reconstruction with a titanium reconstruction plate. Fifty-one months after surgery there is no evidence of recurrent osteomyelitis of the mandible, suggesting that a more radical surgical approach is preferable for patients with severe complications resulting from osteopetrosis. Also presented here are the histopathological and biochemical features of the osteopetrotic bone. The osteopetrotic cortical bone was morbidly sclerotic with compact and irregular laminations. Degradation of osteocytes in the osteopetrotic bone was due to hypoxia and lack of nutrition resulting from osteosclerosis. There were no significant differences between osteopetrotic and normal bone according to X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, collagen content or mineral content. Micro-Vickers hardness measurements showed that osteopetrotic bone was significantly harder than normal bone, and the standard deviation of hardness was greater in osteopetrotic bone. Such a loss of integrity in osteopetrotic bone is considered to be a primary reason for the greater risk of a variety of complications such as pathological fracture and refractory osteomyelitis.

Familial malignant osteopetrosis in children: a case report

The clinical, radiological, pathological and laboratory findings of two brothers with autosomal recessive malignant osteopetrosis are presented. Our findings are similar to characteristics previously reported in the literature about patients with osteopetrosis. The 6-year-old male patient was pale and had petechiae on his arms and legs. He also had macrocephalia, splenomegaly, severe pancytopenia, genu valgus, hypocalcemia, amaurosis, cessation of physical development, generalized bone sclerosis and recurrent infections with a history of multiple incidences of acute otitis media. Generalized bone sclerosis and irregular sclerosis of the maxilla and mandible were seen on radiographs. The oral mucosa was apparently normal but permanent tooth eruption was delayed although there was early loss of deciduous teeth. The recommended treatment was blood transfusion and therapy with antibiotics when necessary; a bone marrow transplant was not possible due to lack of a compatible donor.

Recalcitrant osteomyelitis following tooth extraction in a case of malignant osteopetrosis

Malignant osteopetrosis generally begins in utero and often results in stillbirth. Besides, failure to thrive, increased bone fragility resulting in frequent fractures and recurrent bone infections are the other characteristic features. Infections after tooth extraction and fracture of the sclerotic bone following mild trauma are serious complications, as these ordinarily common problems are very difficult to treat in such patients. Poor bone vascularisation and reduced local defences prolong the defensive response. A rare case of malignant osteopetrosis in a 19-year-old girl, who presented with the complication of osteomyelitis of the mandible following tooth extraction, is presented. The case is of interest for two reasons: it is very rare for a case of malignant osteopetrosis to survive until adulthood and to be aware of the potential dental and oral complications of the disorder.

Free fibular flap reconstruction in mandibular osteopetrosis

Extensive involvement of the mandible with sclerosis secondary to the rare genetic disorder, osteopetrosis, is a difficult reconstructive problem. It is typically refractory to conservative management or local surgical methods because of vascular compromise of the bone. For this reason, total resection of all involved bone with microvascular graft reconstruction is an ideal method for mandibular reconstruction in osteopetrosis that has not been previously reported.