The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
-
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Jul 2012
Are women with thicker cortices in the femoral shaft at higher risk of subtrochanteric/diaphyseal fractures? The study of osteoporotic fractures.
Femoral shaft cortical thickening has been mentioned in reports of atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal (S/D) femur fractures, but it is unclear whether thickening precedes fracture or results from a preceding stress fracture and what role bisphosphonates might play in cortical thickening. ⋯ In primarily bisphosphonate-naive women, we found no evidence that thick femoral cortices placed women at higher risk for low-energy S/D femur fractures; in fact, the opposite was true. Women with thin cortices were also at a higher risk for femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures. Whether cortical thickness among bisphosphonate users plays a role in atypical S/D fractures remains to be determined.