Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRON)

On the 11th of December 2007, the ABC's The 7.30 Report aired a report regarding Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRON). The program was soundly rebuked by a number of different medical groups and organisations for its alarmist, misleading and inaccurate presentation. The Australian newspaper reported on the 19th December 2007 "Doctors angered by bone drug report" Osteoporosis Australia and the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZMBS) - released a joint Consumer Fact Sheet on Bisphosphonates and ONJ ANZBMS released a statement about the 7:30 Report "Statement about Numerous Errors in Tuesday night’s story on Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)"- 21 January 2008 The program on the 7.30 Report understandably alarmed many of our members who have children on Bisphosphonate treatment in regards to Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Professor David Sillence, Chairman, Professional Advisory Committee, OI Australia, Dr Craig Munns, Bone and Mineral Physician, Centre for Children’s Bone Health, Dr Sally Hibbert, Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Professor Richard Widmer, Department of Paediatric Dentistry have released: A Statement regarding Prevention and Management of Bisphosphonate related Osteonecrosis of the jaw in children; Recommend the joint statement from Osteoporosis Australia and the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZMBS) - regarding Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; And recommend the 2007 journal article titled No osteonecrosis in jaws of young patients with osteogenesis imperfecta treated with bisphosphonates publised in the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine. Further reading:  Bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw, from Australian Family Physician, 35(10), October 2006 December 2007

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