Effects of Zoledronate on Thoracic Vertebral Fracture in an Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient: A case report

ABSTRACT

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are more susceptible to spine fractures than healthy people. Because of their underlying back pain, vertebral fracture induced pain is not easily controlled by bed rest, physical therapy and medications. Thus, new treatment methods should be introduced. We report a 63 year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis who fell down 4 weeks ago and suffered a fracture of T6 spine. He complained of a mid thoracic pain. Although he was treated with bed rest, physical therapy, second-line bisphosphonate agents, the pain persisted. Therefore, intravenous zoledronate which was approved for palliative treatment of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer, 4 mg was administrated. The severity of pain was decreased by half within 2 days and sustained over 4 weeks.