{"id":112850,"date":"2009-12-16T11:09:05","date_gmt":"2009-12-16T16:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c89dd53ef0128765b228c970c"},"modified":"2009-12-16T11:11:32","modified_gmt":"2009-12-16T16:11:32","slug":"bisphosphonates-such-as-fosamax-and-femur-fractures-some-recent-2009-medical-journal-articles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/112850","title":{"rendered":"Bisphosphonates Such As Fosamax And Femur Fractures: Some Recent 2009 Medical Journal Articles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Atypical Low-Energy Femoral Fractures Associated With Long-Term Use Of Fosamax And Other Bisphosphonates<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>(Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com<\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/a>)<\/strong><\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Journal Watch General Medicine<\/em> (JW Gen Med<\/em>) published December 15, 2009 included an article, “Atypical Fractures in Long-Term Bisphosphonate Users”<\/a>\u00a0(subscription required), by Allan S. Brett, MD.<\/p>\n

In this brief article, Dr. Brett reviewed the following two recent medical journal articles about Fosamax (alendronate) or other bisphosphonates and femur fractures, also known as femoral fractures:<\/p>\n

“Bilateral low-energy simultaneous or sequential femoral fractures in patients on long-term alendronate therapy”<\/a> (J Bone Joint Surg Am<\/em> 2009 Nov; 91:2556); and,<\/p>\n

“Association of low-energy femoral fractures with prolonged bisphosphonate use: A case control study”<\/a> (Osteoporos Int<\/em> 2009 Aug; 20:1353)<\/p>\n

As regards those two medical articles, here is what Dr. Brett observed:<\/p>\n

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Comment:<\/strong> These reports, and several others (e.g., JW Gen Med Apr 5 2005), suggest that a small subgroup of women could be susceptible to atypical femoral fractures after prolonged bisphosphonate use; suppression of bone turnover and accumulation of microdamage is a postulated mechanism. Prospective studies are needed to prove a causal relation; if causality is demonstrated, we’ll need to determine whether the incidence of this complication is appreciable and whether at-risk patients can be identified.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Following my review of those two medical articles about low-energy femoral fractures in patients using bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, I collected several other recent articles from various medical journals, which are listed below:<\/p>\n

“Bisphosphonate-associated femoral fracture: implications for management in patients with malignancies”<\/a> (J Bone Joint Surg Am<\/em> 2009 Nov 91:2556);<\/p>\n

“Low-energy femoral fractures associated with the long-term use of bisphosphonates: a case series from a Swiss university hospital”<\/a> (Drug Saf.<\/em> 2009;32(9):775-85);<\/p>\n

“Subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures in patients treated with alendronate: a register-based national cohort study”<\/a> (J Bone Miner Res.<\/em> 2009 Jun;24(6):1095-102);<\/p>\n

“Atraumatic bilateral femur fracture in long-term bisphosphonate use”<\/a> (Orthopedics<\/em>. 2009 Aug;32(8)); and,<\/p>\n

“Bilateral low-energy simultaneous or sequential femoral fractures in patients on long-term alendronate therapy”<\/a> (J Bone Joint Surg Am.<\/em> 2009 Nov;91(11):2556-61).<\/p>\n

Moving from the medical realm to the legal arena, there have been product liability lawsuits filed on behalf on people who have suffered femur fractures<\/a> during or following their use of Fosamax and other bisphosphonates.<\/p>\n

We will continue to watch and periodically report about this emerging drug injury topic.<\/p>\n

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DrugInjuryLaw.com<\/font><\/span><\/strong><\/a>: Legal Information And News About Prescription Drug Side Effects<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n