To the Editor:
The case report “Atraumatic Bilateral Femur Fracture in Long-Term Bisphosphonate Use” (~/link.aspx?_id=998FA679448F470EB5C90B494D045188&_z=z) in the August 2009 issue of Orthopedics reported that a female patient with bilateral femur fractures had been taking alendronate 70 mg/week since 1991. Alendronate was not approved until 1995. Unless she took part in one of the clinical trials done before alendronate was on the market, she could not have taken it for >13 years.
Susan M. Ott, MD
Seattle, Washington
Reply:
Thank you for bringing this point to our attention. After further review of the original medical records, we found the patient was started on alendronate in 1997, not 1991. She had undergone a change in primary care physician, which accounted for the discrepancy. She was therefore on alendronate for 10 years before being switched to another bisphosphonate for 1 year prior to presentation with the second fracture.
Harpal S. Khanuja, MD
Baltimore, Maryland
doi: 10.3928/01477447-20100526-10