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Management Strategy for Symptomatic Bisphosphonate-Associated Incomplete Atypical Femoral Fractures

  • Original Article
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HSS Journal ®

Abstract

Background

Long-term bisphosphonate use has often been associated with atypical femoral fractures. These fractures evolve from incomplete femoral fractures. A previous study demonstrated that the presence of a radiolucent line in an incomplete fracture can indicate a high risk of progression to complete fracture.

Questions/Purposes

The aim of this study is to present a management strategy for symptomatic bisphosphonate-associated incomplete atypical femoral fractures. Specific study questions include the following: (1) Is there a difference in the prognosis of these fractures based on the presence or absence of a radiolucent fracture line? (2) Can treatment with teriparatide assist in clinical/radiographic healing of these incomplete fractures? (3) Is there a characteristic biochemical profile in these patients?

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively examined all femur radiographs ordered by the metabolic bone disease service at our hospital between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2011 and identified 10 patients with a total of 14 incomplete fractures. Nine patients received bisphosphonates for a mean duration of 10 ± 5 years (range, 4–17). The mean follow-up since the time of diagnosis was 20 ± 11 months (range, 6–36 months).

Results

Five fractures did not have a radiolucent fracture line and were treated conservatively with partial weight-bearing restrictions and pharmacologic therapy. All five of these fractures healed with conservative management. Nine fractures had a radiolucent fracture line, and only two of these were treated successfully with conservative management including teriparatide. Six of the eight patients with a radiolucent line elected for surgical prophylaxis after 3 months of conservative management, whereas one patient underwent surgical prophylaxis without a trial of conservative management. Regarding the biochemical profiles, bone turnover markers for our patient cohort were in the lower quartile.

Conclusions

Fractures without a radiolucent line appear to respond to conservative management and not require surgical prophylaxis. Teriparatide treatment may hold promise in promoting healing of these fractures.

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Disclosures

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of this case, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Anas Saleh MD, Vishal V. Hegde BA, Anish G. Potty MD, Robert Schneider MD, Charles N. Cornell MD & Joseph M. Lane MD

  2. Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Anas Saleh MD, Vishal V. Hegde BA, Charles N. Cornell MD & Joseph M. Lane MD

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  1. Anas Saleh MD
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  2. Vishal V. Hegde BA
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  3. Anish G. Potty MD
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  6. Joseph M. Lane MD
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Correspondence to Anas Saleh MD.

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Level of evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description levels of evidence.

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Saleh, A., Hegde, V.V., Potty, A.G. et al. Management Strategy for Symptomatic Bisphosphonate-Associated Incomplete Atypical Femoral Fractures. HSS Jrnl 8, 103–110 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-012-9275-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-012-9275-y

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