The effect of osteoporosis and its treatment on fracture healing a systematic review of animal and clinical studies.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone structure. Its treatment is directed at the processes of bone formation or resorption, that are of utmost importance in fracture healing. We provide a comprehensive review of the literature aiming to summarize and clarify the effects of osteoporosis and its treatment on fracture healing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase (OVID version). In vivo animal and human studies on long bone fractures were included. A total of 93 articles were included for this review; 23 studies on the effect of osteoporosis (18 animal and 5 clinical studies) and 70 studies on the effect of osteoporosis treatment (41 animal, 26 clinical studies and 3 meta-analyses) on fracture healing. RESULTS: In animal fracture models osteoporosis was associated with decreased callus formation and bone growth, bone mineral density, biomechanical strength and delayed cellular and differentiation processes during fracture healing. Two large databases identified osteoporosis as a risk factor for non-union whereas three other studies did not. One of those three studies however found a prolonged healing time in patients with osteoporosis. Anti-osteoporosis medication showed inconsistent effects on fracture healing in both non-osteoporotic and osteoporotic animal models. Only the parathyroid hormone and anti-resorption medication were related to improved fracture healing and delayed remodelling respectively. Clinical studies performed in predominantly hip and distal radius fracture patients showed no effect of bisphosphonates on fracture healing. Parathyroid hormone reduced time to union in several clinical trials performed in mainly hip fracture patients, but this did not result in decreased delayed or non-union rates. CONCLUSION: Evidence that substantiates the negative influence of osteoporosis on fracture healing is predominantly from animal studies and to a lesser extent from clinical studies, since convincing clinical evidence lacks. Bisphosphonates and parathyroid hormone may be used during fracture healing, since no clear negative effect has been shown. Parathyroid hormone might even decrease time to fracture union, without decreasing union rate.

Does osteoporosis affect the healing of subcapital humerus and distal radius fractures?

INTRODUCTION: Animal models indicate that osteoporosis may negatively influence the fracture healing process, but clinical studies on this topic are scarce. In this study we investigated the effect of osteoporosis on fracture healing in patients with an upper extremity fracture. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients aged 50 years or older, with a fracture of the proximal humerus or the distal radius treated in the period June 2012 to July 2015 and a DEXA scan within a year after fracture. The incidence of delayed-union and non-union were compared between patients with or without osteoporosis (BMD T score ≤ -2.5SD). A secondary analysis was performed with a more pragmatically definition; BMD T score ≤ -2.5SD or a proximal humerus fracture with a T-score between -2.5SD and -1.0SD. RESULTS: Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 133/455 patients (29.2%). A total of 461 fractures (distal radius n = 311 and proximal humerus n = 150) were treated. Radiological delayed- or non-union was described in 11/461 cases (2.4%); all proximal humerus fractures of which 6 cases (1.3%) were clinically manifest. The incidence of delayed- or non-union in fracture treatment did not differ between patients with osteoporosis (5/137 fractures) and the patients without osteoporosis (6/324 fractures) (p = 0.27). In the second analysis a significantly higher incidence was found in patients with osteoporosis (10/214 fractures vs 1/247 fractures p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that osteoporosis does not significantly influence the progress of fracture healing in distal radius and proximal humerus fractures, although there seems to be a tendency towards a negative effect.

Vitamin D status and adult fracture healing.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of vitamin D on maintaining bone health is well researched and its role in the various metabolic stages of fracture healing has become evident, the clinical effects of a vitamin D deficiency in human fracture healing are less well described. Considering today's high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, the aim of this present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D status on human adult fracture healing. METHODS: The serum calcidiol concentration was measured in a cohort of adult patients with a fracture in the upper or lower extremity between September 2012 and October 2013. Deficient patients (serum calcidiol <50 nmol/L) were treated with vitamin D. Clinical and radiological consolidation was determined. RESULTS: Vitamin D concentration was measured in 617 patients; 249 (40%) were vitamin D deficient, they subsequently received vitamin D supplements. In 141 patients with a deficiency vitamin D was measured again after 4 months; 111 patients (78.7%) were no longer vitamin D deficient, and 30 remained vitamin D deficient. In six patients of the entire cohort, a clinical delayed union was described. The incidence of delayed union was higher in the group that remained vitamin D deficient (9.7%) compared to the patients who were not initially deficient (0.3%) and those who were no longer deficient after supplementation (1.7%; p < 0.001). The incidence of radiological delayed union did not differ between these three groups (p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: The results of this research suggest that the vitamin D status at time of fracture affects fracture healing. Further research is needed to confirm these results.

Vitamin D deficiency in adult fracture patients: prevalence and risk factors.

PURPOSE: Although vitamin D levels are not routinely monitored in outpatient fracture patients, identification of fracture patients with a deficient vitamin D status may be clinically relevant because of the potential role of vitamin D in fracture healing. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in non-operatively treated adult fracture patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Vitamin D levels were determined in a cross-sectional study of adult patients, who were treated non-operatively for a fracture of the upper or lower extremity in the outpatient clinic of a level 1 trauma center, during one calendar year. Potential risk factors for (severe) vitamin D deficiency were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 208 men and 319 women with a mean age of 49.7 years (SD 19.9) were included. In this population, 71 % had a serum calcidiol <75 nmol/L, 40 % were vitamin D deficient (serum calcidiol <50 nmol/L) and 11 % were severely vitamin D deficient (serum calcidiol <25 nmol/L). Smoking and season (winter and spring) were independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. An increasing age, a non-Caucasian skin type, winter and smoking were identified as independent risk factors for severe vitamin D deficiency. The use of vitamin D, alcohol consumption and higher average daily sun exposure were independent protective factors against (severe) vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: Given the potential role of vitamin D in fracture healing, clinicians treating adult fracture patients should be aware of the frequent presence of vitamin D deficiency during the winter, especially in smoking and non-Caucasian patients. Research on the effect of vitamin D deficiency or supplementation on fracture healing is needed, before suggesting routine monitoring or supplementation.

Implant removal associated complications in children with limb fractures due to trauma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the number and type of complications that occurred after fracture implant removal and to investigate whether implant removal should be performed routinely in children. METHODS: In a retrospective study, patient records were used for the analyses of patient characteristics, surgery reports, and complications. Children under the age of 16 years with a limb fracture due to trauma, treated with either Kirschner wires (K-wires), elastic stable intramedullary nails (ESIN), or screw fixation between 2000 and 2007, were included. Exclusion criteria were as follows: refracture, pathological fracture, fracture of the hands and feet, or polytrauma patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] > 15). RESULTS: Three-hundred and nine fractures were analyzed. All K-wires (173) and ESIN (96) were removed as per standard procedure, resulting in 17/173 and 7/96 complications after removal, respectively. In 19/40 patients with screw fixation treatments, it was decided to remove the material after fracture consolidation, resulting in 4/19 complications. The decision in 21 treatments to leave the screw in situ led to four complications. No significant difference in complication rates could be found for the three groups after removal surgery (17/173, 7/96, and 4/19) or between hardware removal (4/19) and retention (4/21) in the case of screw fixation. CONCLUSIONS: The removal of K-wires, ESIN, and screws is considered to be a safe procedure in children and is, by definition, indicated for K-wires and ESIN after fracture healing.