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Osteoporosis drug shows other effects

02/13/12

An osteoporosis drug that prevents the disease from spreading throughout the body might be linked to additional atypical femur fractures.

The use of bisphosphonates, drugs proven to enhance bone density and reduce cases of fractures caused by osteoporosis, has been found to also prevent rare fractures of the thigh bone without trauma.

Researchers examined femur fracture data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009, in 126 patients who were 45 and older who suffered atypical femur fractures and were taking bisphosponates before the bone break. The study showed 53.9 percent of patients who continued taking the drug for three or more years after atypical femur fractures suffered fractures in the other thigh. Overall, further fractures were decreased 65.6 percent when the drug was stopped within a year following the first fracture.

"The risk of a contralateral atypical femur fracture (on the opposite side) increases over time if the bisphosphonates are continued," said lead investigator Richard Dell, MD, a researcher in the Department of Orthopaedics at Kaiser Permanente. "Based on these observations, we recommend discontinuing bisphosphonate use as soon as possible after the initial atypical femur fracture has occurred."

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more than 10 million individuals are thought to have the disease, which should be prepared for by securing life insurance to plan for any unexpected medical expenses.

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