ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We studied the improvement of back pain in vertebral fracture and fracture healing in non-vertebral fracture after treatment with zoledronate in postmenopausal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postmenopausal women with bone mineral density (BMD) T-score of -2.5 or less and existing vertebral fractures or non-vertebral fractures between January 2011 and June 2012 were included. Patients received a single intravenous infusion of zoledronate within 3 days after diagnosis of fractures. The primary outcome was BMD and secondary outcomes were visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain, fracture healing, and new clinical fracture. RESULTS: T-score increased significantly in the vertebral fracture group (n=97) and non-vertebral fracture group (n=31) at 1 year (p<0.05). The average VAS for back pain decreased significantly in the vertebral fracture group (p<0.05) and there was no delayed union, nonunion in the non-vertebral fracture group. There was no re-fracture and 3 new clinical fractures (2.34%) occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Zoledronate, as treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients can improve BMD, reduce back pain in vertebral fracture, and has no negative effect on bone healing after fracture in non-vertebral fracture.