Outcomes of sequestrectomy and buccal fat pad reconstruction in the management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of buccal fat pad (BFP) in the reconstruction of surgical defects following sequestrectomy in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). A total of ten patients with MRONJ underwent sequestrectomy and reconstruction using BFP. There were 3 males and 7 females. The age range was 20–70 years. Two patients were diagnosed with stage 2, and eight patients were diagnosed with stage 3 disease. Eight defects were present in the maxilla and two in the posterior mandible. Oro-antral communication was present in 8 cases. All patients have undergone sequestrectomy, debridement and reconstruction using BFP under local anaesthesia. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and evaluated for complete epithelisation of defect, infection, pain and recurrence of the lesion. Complete epithelisation with closure of the defect was achieved in all the cases. None of the patients had residual pain or inflammation at the surgical site. There was no case of postoperative infection. Reconstruction using buccal fat pad is an effective treatment modality to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent further progression of disease in MRONJ patients.