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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2012; 22(03): 178-181
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.107178
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Atypical femoral fractures related to bisphosphonate therapy

Tarun Pankaj Jain
Queensland X ray, 76 Willetts Road, Mackay - 4740, Queensland
,
Murray Thorn
1985 Logan Road, Upper Mount Gravatt - 4122, Queensland
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nill.
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Abstract

Bisphosphonates (BP) are a commonly prescribed class of drugs for the prevention of osteoporosis-related fractures. Paradoxically, however, they have recently been linked to atypical fractures in the shaft of the femur. Since many physicians including radiologists, are not aware of this entity, the incidence is likely underreported. These fractures usually occur in the sub-trochanteric region of the femur in the setting of low-energy trauma. It starts as a fracture line involving the lateral cortex and then progresses medially to give rise to a complete fracture. The fracture line is usually transverse, and there is a medial spike associated with a complete fracture. These fractures can be bilateral. Awareness of these atypical fractures and their radiological appearance should enable their early and accurate detection and thus lead to specific treatment.

Keywords

Bisphosphonates - femoral fractures - hip fractures


Publication History

Article published online:
04 October 2021

© 2012. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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