Fracture News and Research

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$Hip and back fractures increase mortality rates in Seniors$

Hip and back fractures increase mortality rates in Seniors

If you are 50 or older and you break your hip, you have a one in four chance of dying within five years. Break your back, and you have a one in six chance of dying that soon, says a McMaster University study.

4 Aug 2009

$Vertebral and hip fractures are associated with an increased risk of death in people older than 50$

Vertebral and hip fractures are associated with an increased risk of death in people older than 50

Vertebral and hip fractures are associated with an increased risk of death, found a new study of 7753 people in Canada aged 50 years and older published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

4 Aug 2009

Zoledronic acid may save lives by strengthening immune system

An osteoporosis drug proven to save lives after hip fractures may do so by strengthening the body's immune system, according to geriatrics researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

19 Jul 2009

Improved bone healing with osteoporosis drug teriparatide

Bone fractures might heal faster if the patient is injected with medications. This is the outcome of a unique study of 102 women with wrist fractures.

16 Jul 2009

Paying for health care overhaul may fall unevenly on states

"Some of the 'bluest' states that propelled Obama into the White House are among those most likely to pay more in taxes to fund expanded health insurance coverage and make other changes to the system, analysts say," The Los Angeles Times reports.

7 Jul 2009

Vegetarian diet leads to lower bone density

Even though there has been for some time concern on the part of experts that a vegetarian diet may have negative impact on bone health, until now that opinion has largely been based on anecdotal evidence and a range of contradictory findings which have often relied on studies which experts say are too small to be biologically relevant.

5 Jul 2009

Surgeons warn: Skateboarding tough on feet, ankles

Children and young adults love the thrill of skateboarding. They learn to master their skills of "riding the rail" and "catching air." But according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), such tricks, while fun, can be physically demanding and cause serious foot and ankle injuries.

30 Jun 2009

Facing Congressional squabbling, President pushes for reform

The press for health care reform hit a snag this week as Congress sputtered to resolve its differences, but President Barack Obama continues his call, almost daily, to continue to try to change the system, The New York Times reports.

21 Jun 2009

$Weight loss surgery increases risk of fractures$

Weight loss surgery increases risk of fractures

After weight loss surgery, people have nearly twice the expected risk of breaking a bone and an even higher risk of a foot or hand fracture, a new study has found. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

12 Jun 2009

FDA approves Reclast (zoledronic acid) for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Reclast (zoledronic acid) Injection has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first and only therapy to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis for two years with a single dose. Reclast is already approved as a once-yearly infusion for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

1 Jun 2009

$Vitamin D and Calcium supplements help prevent bone fracture in the elderly$

Vitamin D and Calcium supplements help prevent bone fracture in the elderly

We all know that vitamin D and calcium are good for bones, but research teams in Europe and USA have shown that both taken daily reduces the rate of hip fracture in older people by 20%.

27 May 2009

Inflammation clue to fragile bones in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

Inflammation could contribute to bone loss in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD), a discovery made by a group of Italian researchers. Dr Anna Rufo and her colleagues found that levels of an inflammatory molecule, known as IL-6, are high in patients with DMD.

25 May 2009

$Older women underestimate risk of bone fracture$

Older women underestimate risk of bone fracture

Most women who are likely to have a bone fracture do not think they are at greater risk, said a leading Italian rheumatologist at a European conference. This could help to explain why many women do not adhere to preventive treatment.

24 May 2009

Urgent Care Centers: Between the ER and the family doctor

Urgent care centers (UCCs) are providing an alternative to emergency room treatment. A study published in the open access journal BMC Health Services Research has shown that UCCs tend to be open well outside of office hours and offer a wider range of services than primary care offices.

14 May 2009

New guidelines on when to repeat bone mineral density tests for their patients

International clinical guidelines on the matter are hazy, with different practices followed in different countries. For a serious condition like osteoporosis, affecting millions, it is important to establish clear protocols.

12 May 2009

Protein effects of hormone replacement therapy uncovered

An in-depth proteomic analysis of the sera of 50 participants from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone replacement therapy trial provides some explanations for the trial's clinical results.

30 Apr 2009

Wyeth's Conbriza (bazedoxifene) approved in Europe for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Conbriza (bazedoxifene), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women at increased risk of fracture.

27 Apr 2009

$Prostate cancer therapy increases risk of fractures and cardiovascular-related death$

Prostate cancer therapy increases risk of fractures and cardiovascular-related death

Prostate cancer patients who undergo therapy to decrease testosterone levels increase their risk of developing bone- and heart-related side effects compared to patients who do not take these medications, according to a new analysis.

27 Apr 2009

$Poor treatment for common vertebral compression fractures$

Poor treatment for common vertebral compression fractures

The advice and treatment given to patients with vertebral compression fractures is not satisfactory.

23 Apr 2009

In-body stem cell therapy has enormous potential for bone injuries

Rarely will physicians use the word "miraculous" when discussing patient recoveries. But that's the very phrase orthopaedic physicians and scientists are using in upstate New York to describe their emerging stem cell research that could have a profound impact on the treatment of bone injuries. Results from preliminary work being released today, patients confined to wheelchairs were able to walk or live independently again because their broken bones finally healed.

23 Apr 2009