Beneficial effect of etidronate therapy in immobilized hip fracture patients.

OBJECTIVES

Hip fracture is among the most common causes of acute immobilization in elderly patients leading to increased bone resorption, and elderly patients with hip fracture are at high risk for a subsequent hip fracture.

DESIGN

In this double-blind, randomized, prospective study, 80 female patients who were immobilized because of a hip fracture were divided into two groups. The etidronate group received oral administration of 200 mg/day etidronate for 2 wks starting 1 day after the surgery. Then, after a 9-wk intermission, etidronate administration was resumed for 2 wks. The placebo group received placebo in a similar manner.

RESULTS

At baseline, both groups had high serum concentrations of ionized calcium, high urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) concentrations, and decreased calcitriol concentrations, suggesting immobilization-induced hypercalcemia and inhibition of renal synthesis of calcitriol. After treatment, serum calcitriol concentrations increased in the etidronate and placebo groups. The etidronate group had significant decreases in serum ionized calcium and urinary D-Pyr, and the placebo group had higher serum calcium and urinary D-Pyr concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Etidronate therapy inhibits bone resorption and improves calcium balance, and such therapy may prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of subsequent hip fracture.