PURPOSE:

To compare healing rates of distal radius fractures in patients on bisphosphonate therapy at the time of injury to rates in those not on bisphosphonate therapy.

METHODS:

A total of 196 consecutive patients treated for distal radius fractures were included in this study. Patients currently on bisphosphonate therapy at the time of injury (bisphosphonate group, n = 43) were compared to the remaining patient group (control group, n = 153). Demographic information was recorded from the patients' medical records, and radiographs were reviewed to determine fracture healing. Patients were further stratified according to age, gender, fracture complexity, type of treatment, and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate regression were used to identify factors associated with time to radiographic fracture union.

RESULTS:

The mean time to union was 55 (+/-17) days in the bisphosphonate group versus 49 (+/-14) days in the control group. Bisphosphonate use and surgical treatment were associated with a longer time to radiographic union. Bisphosphonate use was associated with increased healing times when individually controlling for age, gender, fracture complexity, or comorbidities. Bisphosphonate use was also associated with longer time to healing after adjusting for age, gender, and treatment type. Surgical fracture fixation was associated with a longer time to healing after adjusting for bisphosphonate use.

CONCLUSIONS:

Current bisphosphonate use and surgical treatment were both associated with longer times to radiographic union of distal radius fractures. However, the small differences in healing times (<1 week) are not considered clinically relevant. Although further studies are needed to better define the effects of bisphosphonate therapy on fracture healing, our results suggest that bisphosphonate therapy can be continued after distal radius fractures without notable deleterious effects.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic III.