BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence suggesting a high incidence of low-energy fractures of the diaphysis or the proximal femur in patients receiving bisphosphonates for a long time. Bisphosphonate-related femoral fractures occur after low-energy trauma and have a typical simple transverse or oblique radiographic pattern, with focal or generalized increased cortical thickness, cortical beaking, and medial spiking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article presents six female patients who experienced seven transverse femoral diaphysis and subtrochanteric fractures with cortical thickening and beaking; all patients had alendronate treatment for 4-10 years (average, 9 years) before their fracture. RESULTS: The typical radiographic findings, long-term administration of alendronate, low-energy mechanism of fracture, and related literature support the fact that the fractures in the patients presented in this series should be related to alendronate treatment. CONCLUSION: Until definite evidence is available, alendronate treatment in patients with osteoporosis is not now prohibited by the healthcare authorities, probably because its beneficial influence outweighs the adverse effects. However, this adverse effect deserves attention of medical practitioners; physicians should be alert on alendronate's possible suppressive effect on bone turnover, which in turn may be responsible for the occurrence of femoral fractures.
BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence suggesting a high incidence of low-energy fractures of the diaphysis or the proximal femur in patients receiving bisphosphonates for a long time. Bisphosphonate-related femoral fractures occur after low-energy trauma and have a typical simple transverse or oblique radiographic pattern, with focal or generalized increased cortical thickness, cortical beaking, and medial spiking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article presents six female patients who experienced seven transverse femoral diaphysis and subtrochanteric fractures with cortical thickening and beaking; all patients had alendronate treatment for 4-10 years (average, 9 years) before their fracture. RESULTS: The typical radiographic findings, long-term administration of alendronate, low-energy mechanism of fracture, and related literature support the fact that the fractures in the patients presented in this series should be related to alendronate treatment. CONCLUSION: Until definite evidence is available, alendronate treatment in patients with osteoporosis is not now prohibited by the healthcare authorities, probably because its beneficial influence outweighs the adverse effects. However, this adverse effect deserves attention of medical practitioners; physicians should be alert on alendronate's possible suppressive effect on bone turnover, which in turn may be responsible for the occurrence of femoral fractures.
Authors: Elizabeth Shane; David Burr; Bo Abrahamsen; Robert A Adler; Thomas D Brown; Angela M Cheung; Felicia Cosman; Jeffrey R Curtis; Richard Dell; David W Dempster; Peter R Ebeling; Thomas A Einhorn; Harry K Genant; Piet Geusens; Klaus Klaushofer; Joseph M Lane; Fergus McKiernan; Ross McKinney; Alvin Ng; Jeri Nieves; Regis O'Keefe; Socrates Papapoulos; Tet Sen Howe; Marjolein C H van der Meulen; Robert S Weinstein; Michael P Whyte Journal: J Bone Miner Res Date: 2013-10-01 Impact factor: 6.741
Authors: Andrew S Neviaser; Joseph M Lane; Brett A Lenart; Folorunsho Edobor-Osula; Dean G Lorich Journal: J Orthop Trauma Date: 2008 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.512
Authors: Denise M van de Laarschot; Malachi J McKenna; Bo Abrahamsen; Bente Langdahl; Martine Cohen-Solal; Núria Guañabens; Richard Eastell; Stuart H Ralston; M Carola Zillikens Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2020-05-01 Impact factor: 5.958