Femoral fractures in osteoporotic patients on bisphosphonates. A case report

Osteoporotic fractures and particularly hip fractures represent a considerable burden of illness in the elderly. Bisphosphonates (BP) have been used extensively over the past decade and a half for the management of osteoporosis with considerable clinical benefit in the reduction of fragility fractures. Although not apparent in clinical trials, rare associations of subtrochanteric atypical femoral fractures (AFF) have been reported postmarketing, often after long-term BP therapy. Here, we report a well-characterized Asian female patient with bilateral AFF after long-term etidronate and alendronate therapy.