Valentin Zaharia

Atypical femoral fractures after long-term bisphosphonates therapy: case report

UNLABELLED We present a 77-year-old woman with no histor of trauma, or associated with low-energy trauma, admitted to our clinic after three weeks of a left femoral fracture threated in Orthopedic Clinic. The patient was in treatment with bisphosphonates over 10 years for osteoporosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The causal re lationship between prolonged bisphosphonate use and the occurrence of atypical femora fractures (AFF) has not yet been established. For the patient at high risk of fracture, it may be beneficial to continue bisphosphonate treatment beyond five years. The absolute risk of atypical femoral fractures is low (about 100 cases per 100,000 person-years among long term users). For most people with osteoporosis, the proven fragility-fracture risk-reduction. benefits of bisphosphonates outweigh the risks of AFF.