The Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is a bone disease only recently recognized (since 2003) and reported in association with use of bisphosphonates (BPs), denosumab, and other drugs mostly in patients with cancer, myeloma, and osteoporosis.
Not all clinicians are aware of ONJ epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, preventive measures. On 2005, oncologists and haematologists together with other specialists, nurses and data managers founded a multidisciplinary team for study, treatment and prevention of ONJ at Alessandria Hospital (North-Western Italy).
The work of the group was included since 2010 within a Multidisciplinary Osteoncology Team (Gruppo Interdisciplinare Cure – Osteoncologia) caring patients with cancer and myeloma patients suffering for bone metastases, cord compression, bone-related pain, bone fractures, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other diseases, together with specialists of other units (Radiotherapy, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Physiatry and Rehabilitation, Pain Control Unit, Palliative Care, etc). We report about the activity of the group and demonstration of importance of ONJ disease in the multidisciplinary osteoncology team work burden.