Preoperative Osteoporosis Treatment Reduces Stress Shielding in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widely used surgical intervention for hip osteoarthritis (HOA), with a rising demand driven by an aging population. Osteoporosis is associated with increased risks of bone loss and implant loosening after THA. While medications such as bisphosphonates and denosumab have shown promise in mitigating these risks, the impact of preoperative osteoporosis treatment on postoperative outcomes remains unclear. This study investigates the effect of preoperative osteoporosis treatment intervention on stress shielding and clinical outcomes in THA patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 107 patients who underwent cementless THA between April 2019 and March 2022. Patients under 60 years old, with a follow-up period of less than one year, or with prior hip surgery were excluded. Participants were divided into two groups: a treatment group receiving osteoporosis medication preoperatively and a non-treatment group. The outcomes assessed included preoperative bone metabolism markers, Bombelli classification, stress shielding grade, and clinical scores. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The preoperative osteoporosis treatment intervention rate was 28.9%. Stress shielding grades were significantly lower in the treatment group (p = 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in clinical scores one year postoperatively. Conclusion: Preoperative osteoporosis treatment significantly reduced stress shielding incidence, potentially influencing long-term outcomes by preventing bone atrophy-related pain and fractures. Preoperative bone density assessment and osteoporosis treatment intervention are recommended to improve THA outcomes. Larger studies are needed for further validation.