Pathophysiological studies at the tissue level, i.e. is the mechanism of atraumatic (insufficiency) fractures different to that of low-trauma fractures?   7. Long-term, large, prospective, observational studies to assess incidence of subtrochanteric fractures in bisphosphonate-treated vs bisphosphonate-naïve patients. Methods should Selleckchem Omipalisib include (1) futility analysis and (2) radiographic measurements. Outcomes should include

(1) adherence, (2) number needed to harm and (3) assessment of temporal relationship between bisphosphonate treatment and fracture type   8. Long-term, large, prospective, observational studies allowing for systematic follow-up of patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated long-term with bisphosphonates, in order to assess fracture healing characteristics (e.g. time to healing, choice of fracture treatment device, adjuvant bone anabolic intervention etc.)   9. Large, prospective, randomized,

controlled clinical trials of the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatment (e.g. Compound C clinical trial strontium ranelate, teriparatide) for patients with subtrochanteric fractures   Conclusions and recommendations A sense of proportion may be helpful in alleviating the concerns of the medical community. A plausible scenario is that long-term exposure to bisphosphonates (more than 5 years) increases the risk of subtrochanteric femoral fractures twofold. In the UK, using the guidance of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, the relative risk of hip fracture is expected to be approximately threefold increased in postmenopausal women identified for treatment [96]. Assuming that the average population risk of hip fracture is 1% per year in postmenopausal women, then 300 hip fractures are expected for every 10,000 patients identified to be at high risk. If these patients were treated DOK2 and assuming an effectiveness of bisphosphonates

of 36% (RR = 0.64) [97], then 108 hip fractures are averted by treatment (and approximately 750 fractures at other sites). On the debit side, three subtrochanteric fractures (both typical and atypical) are to be expected, which might increase to six if bisphosphonates doubled the risk of all subtrochanteric fractures. Under the assumptions of this scenario, the risk–benefit ratio remains very favourable. Evidence, including that from an EMEA class selleck products review, suggests that alendronate use may potentially increase the risk for atypical, low-trauma subtrochanteric fractures, although it is unclear whether this applies to other bisphosphonates. Irrespective of exposure to bisphosphonates, the occurrence of subtrochanteric fractures is an expected finding in patients with osteoporosis. If atypical fractures do occur, then their characteristics are poorly defined, their causality with bisphosphonate exposure insecure and their frequency rare.