Do bisphosphonates actually increase the risk of broken bones in the thigh and/or hip?
Bisphosphonates have been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of broken bones in individuals with osteoporosis. In the majority of patients, bisphosphonate medicines help prevent hip fractures. However, over the past several years, there have been reports from healthcare practitioners about an unusual type of broken bone in the upper part of the femur, located below the hip. While this type of fracture is very uncommon, many of these patients were taking bisphosphonate medicines for five years or longer. Some patients reported that they had pain in the thigh and groin area prior to the breaking of the thigh bone, which could have been present for weeks or many months. The pain might be a clue to the existence of a partial fracture called a stress fracture, which does not fully heal. For people with osteoporosis who take bisphosphonate medicines, unusual fractures of the thigh bone are uncommon, unlike fractures of the hip, spine and wrist. NOF is closely evaluating ongoing rese
