title: [Femur fractures caused by long-term bisphosphonate therapy].
abstract: There is increasingly more evidence to suggest that spontaneous femur fractures may be an adverse effect of long-term bisphosphonate use. Patients typically present with prodromal thigh pain, cortical thickening on conventional radiographs or present at A&E with a spontaneous transverse subtrochanteric femur fracture with a medial spike. Discontinuation of bisphosphonate therapy is advisable in patients presenting with a spontaneous femur fracture with specific features while using bisphosphonates. The way in which bisphosphonates alter the mechanical properties of bone is as yet unknown.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum, Afd. Orthopedie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. mp_somford@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Matthijs P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Somford
authors.forename: Bregje J W
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.forename: W Frits
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Draijer
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates