Treating chronic diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible with saucerization and autogenous bone grafting

Objective, Chronic diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible is a di fficult-to-treat disease characterized by recurrent symptoms. The purpose o f this study was to determine the results of particulate cancellous bone an d marrow grafting after saucerization in the surgical treatment of diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible. Study design, Six patients with chronic diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible were treated by particulate cancellous hone and marrow grafti ng after saucerization and were retrospectively evaluated. Treatment result s were evaluated With repeated comprehensive clinical investigation and rad iologic/scintigraphic analysis. Results. After the surgical procedure, all patients indicated maintenance o f mandible continuity, contour, and function. Furthermore, 3 patients were symptom-free and the remaining 3 patients exhibited improvement. Conclusions. The partial resection of the mandible is associated with disad vantages, including loss of mandibular support, dysfunction, and problems r elated to mandibular reconstruction. Therefore, it would be reasonable to c hoose saucerization combined with particulate cancellous hone and marrow gr afting, which is a relatively conservative surgical treatment for chronic d iffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible.