Short term results of concomitant intranasal administration of salmon calcitonin in intertrochanteric femur fractures operated upon using dynamic hip screw

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of nasal calcitonin spray in union of the intertrochanteric fractures of elderly female patients. Fifty female patients aged above 60 years [mean age = 73.9 years] old with Intertrochanteric fracture were operated from Sept 2005 to August 2006 by dynamic hip screw. In a randomized controlled trial, patients were divided into two groups A and B. Each group had 25 patients. After hospitalization 200 IU of salmon calcitonin as a single dose nasal spray was administered to patients of group A, daily for 3 months and a placebo spray was used in patients of group B. serum level of alkaline phosphatase and time of appearance of a bone callus in a plain radiograph were compared in the two groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. About 72% of patients in group A showed signs of union as the appearing of bone callus in radiograph in the 3rd week, compared to 40% in group B. Twenty of patients in group A [80%] and 20% of the group B had an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase from the 15th day after injury [P<0.005]. Meanwhile alkaline phosphatase levels in group A was 185 IU on 15 the day compared to 140 IU on group B. and values were 443 IU and 210 IU on 90th day respectively. As regards the time of appearance of the union signs in a plain bone radiograph, 72% of patients in group A have shown signs of appearance of a bone callus in the 3rd week after surgery, while the rate has been 40% in group B. Using nasal spray of calcitonin in old females with intertrochanteric fracture is effective for earlier and increased rate of bone union