Results of alendronate administration in patients with lumbar spine fracture without surgical indication

Abstract

Treating vertebral fractures in the thoracic and lumbar aims to create a solid bed to prevent nerve damage, increase deformity, and fix the broken spine for the next fusion. The present study aimed to evaluate the post results of alendronate administration in patients with lumbar vertebral fracture without surgical indication. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was performed as a randomized clinical trial study on 60 patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fracture due to spinal trauma who were referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz and had no indication for vertebral fusion surgery. All patients received a complete neurological evaluation by a neurosurgery resident while receiving initial trauma treatments and standard treatments (NSAIDs and analgesics) and medical emergencies. Patients were then divided into two random groups, A and B, by Randlist 2.1 software. Group A received alendronate, and group B received painkillers. Group A patients received 35 mg of alendronate weekly after discharge. Patients were not denied standard treatment (NSAIDs, analgesics, and other requirements). Results: The present study was performed on 60 patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures without surgical indication in two intervention (alendronate 35 mg weekly) and placebo (NSAID supportive and analgesic treatments) groups. The mean age of patients in the intervention group was 46.86±17.86 years and in the placebo group was 37.66±8.68 years. Twenty-two patients (73.3%) were male in both groups, and eight patients (26.7%) were female. The most common fracture site was the L2 vertebra. The percentage of bone fusion was significantly higher in patients receiving alendronate (73.33% vs. 43.33%; p=0.001). The percentage of the posterior vertebral collapse was also higher in patients receiving alendronate. The F-angle was significantly reduced in both groups after receiving the intervention and 6-month follow-up. Also, the angle F was significantly higher in the placebo group than in the alendronate group after receiving the intervention (9.83±1.53 vs. 6.23±1.40; p=0.001).