Atypical femoral fractures related to bisphosphonate therapy
A 74-year-old woman presented with pain around her left hip for one month. She was on BP (alendronate) for four years. The radiographs of her hip and upper femur [] were interpreted as normal. She presented again one month later with increase in the pain. The radiographs now showed an incomplete transverse fracture in the sub-trochanteric shaft of the femur, involving the lateral half of the shaft []. She was managed with fixation of the fracture. A retrospective review of the earlier radiograph showed subtle thickening and beaking of the lateral cortex of the femur [], the site of subsequent development of the fracture. A follow-up radiograph after 8 months showed incomplete healing of the fracture.