Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Bisphosphonates And Bone Microdamage, William A. Caruthers

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Osteoporosis is a significant healthcare issue due to the increasing elderly population. Bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis by reducing the rate of resorption, increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and thereby reducing fracture risk. Long-term bisphosphonate treatment, however, has been associated with low-energy fractures. Bone microdamage may provide a partial explanation for one of the mechanisms responsible for these fractures since it has been shown to reduce bone toughness, fracture resistance, and bone strength. The goal of this study was to quantify the changes in bone microdamage parameters with the duration of bisphosphonate treatment. This study selected, stained, and histomorphometrically …