2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (11): 1739-1743

Calcitonin for postmenopausal osteoporotic hip fractures: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Liu Zhi1, 2, Zhu Yong1, 2, Lin Zhangyuan1, 2, Zhao Ruibo1, 2, Long Haitao1, 2, Lu Bangbao1, 2, Sun Buhua1, 2, Cheng Liang1, 2, Zhao Shushan1, 2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Calcitonin acts as a classic anti-osteoporosis drug and has been widely used in clinical anti-osteoporosis treatment. Increasing studies have found that it also has a marked effect in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of calcitonin in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic hip fractures.
METHODS: A prospective randomized control trial was conducted. Sixty elderly patients with osteoporotic hip fractures were enrolled and randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group in a 1:1 ratio. The experimental group was given domestic calcitonin (once a week) combined with calcium carbonate+vitamin D (once a day) for 6 months; and the control group was given calcium carbonate+vitamin D (once a day) for 6 months. Clinical efficacy and safety of calcitonin were then evaluated by comparing bone turnover marker, fracture healing rate, bone mineral density, serum calcium, serum phosphorus and adverse effects between two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both experimental group (n=26) and control group (n=28) completed the experiment and their baseline data were basically the same. Calcitonin could significantly inhibit the mass concentration of C-terminal crosslinked telopeptides of type 1 collagen   at 8, 12, and 24 weeks (P < 0.01) and improve visual analogue scale score at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.01) but have no effect on fracture healing, serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels. (3) There were no significant differences in bone mineral density and adverse effects between the two groups. To conclude, calcitonin can reduce postoperative high conversion state, reduce acute bone loss, relieve postoperative pain, and have good safety in postmenopausal osteoporotic fracture patients.
Key words: calcitonin, postmenopausal osteoporosis, osteoporotic fracture, acute bone loss, bone turnover marker