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Bisphosphonate long-term treatment related bilateral subtrochanteric femoral fracture. Can teriparatide be useful?

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Abstract

Long-term treatment with biphosphonates has been related to atypical femoral fractures. We report the clinical case of a woman who suffered a proximal diaphyseal oblique fracture of the left femur after uninterrupted 13-year treatment with alendronate. Shortly after surgery, a painful lytic image in the external cortex of her right femur diaphysis was detected. Some papers have suggested surgical treatment to repair femur fractures after long-term treatment with bisphosphonates. Otherwise, two studies have shown healing acceleration of bone fractures with teriparatide. A lytic lesion was treated with teriparatide obtaining progressive disappearance of symptoms as well as bone healing. This outcome may suggest a way of prevention of complete fractures in symptomatic patients with long-term treatment with bisphosphonates.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest related to the publication of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Medicine Deparment, Hospital Universitario de la Ribera, Carretera de Corbera nº 1, 46600, Alzira, Valencia, Spain

    Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina

  2. Orthopaedics Department, Hospital Universitario de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, Spain

    Luis Aguilella-Fernández

Authors
  1. Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina
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  2. Luis Aguilella-Fernández
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Correspondence to Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina.

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Tarazona-Santabalbina, F.J., Aguilella-Fernández, L. Bisphosphonate long-term treatment related bilateral subtrochanteric femoral fracture. Can teriparatide be useful?. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 605–609 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0137-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0137-3

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