Delayed healing of lower limb fractures with bisphosphonate therapy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Bisphosphonate therapy (BT) is used commonly in the management of osteoporosis. A systematic review was conducted investigating delayed union of lower limb, long bone fractures in patients on BT. We specifically assessed whether BT increases the risk of delayed union or non-union in lower limb, long bone fractures. METHODS A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Embase™ on 4 November 2014. Articles that investigated lower limb fractures, history of BT and fracture union were included in the review. RESULTS A total of 9,809 papers were retrieved and 14 were deemed suitable for this review. The mean time to union in patients on BT was 8.5 months. A longer time to union..