Nogues X et al. – This cross–sectional study compared postmenopausal women on bisphosphonates (BPs) for at least 4 years with good adherence to treatment, and patients with incident fractures (N = 21) were compared with BP–treated women without new fractures (N = 18). The results of the study concluded that patients who experience fractures while receiving therapy with BPs revealed worse bone material strength index (BMSi) scores than BP–treated individuals without fractures. Thus, the potential of BMSi to provide an additional target for osteoporosis treatment target should be evaluated.

Methods

• Demographic and clinical variables, bone mineral density (BMD), laboratory tests, and BMSi were assessed by impact microindentation at the tibial diaphysis for all participants.

Results

• Although there was no difference in clinical and laboratory results between patients taking BPs with incident fractures versus those without new fractures, BMSi was significantly lower in patients with fractures (73.76 ± 6.49) compared with patients without fracture (81.64 ± 6.26).
• BMD of lumbar spine was also lower in patients with fracture (P = .03).