Characteristics of bone biochemical indices in predicting secondary osteoporotic fracture after intertrochanteric fracture in elderly women

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of bone biochemical indices, including bone mineral density (BMD), metabolic markers in elderly women with osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture and their relevance in secondary fracture. METHODS: The standard for follow-up from 58 elderly women was established to analyse the BMD in the injured hip, healthy hip, and the vertebra at 1 week and 12 months after fracture. The serum levels of total procollagen type N-terminal propeptide (tPINP) and the age-related type I cross linked C-telopeptide (β-CTX) were recorded and compared between those patients with and without secondary fractures within 12 months. RESULTS: Twelve months after fracture, the serum levels of tPINP and β-CTX were significantly higher than the baseline values (p < 0.01). The tPINP baseline in patients with secondary fracture was significantly lower than that in the rest patients without secondary fracture (p < 0.01). The β-CTX baseline was notably higher than that without secondary fracture (p < 0.01). BMD values of the three periods had no significantly difference. CONCLUSION: The serum levels of tPINP and β-CTX are of great value in earlier and more sensitively reflecting the condition of bone turnover in body. Meanwhile, they can predict the subsequent fracture risk more accurately combined with a lower BMD. THE TRANSLATIONAL POTENTIAL OF THIS ARTICLE: Besides BMD, bone microstructure and remodeling levels can be accurately measured by bone biochemical indices. The main objective of this research is to explore the change of BMD and the serum level of bone biochemical indices of elderly women who suffered unilateral intertrochanteric fracture within 12 months. Simultaneously, with aim to better obtain bone remodeling level and predict more accurately the risk of a secondary osteoporotic fracture, bone biochemical indices of these patients, who undergo secondary osteoporotic fracture or not, are collected during follow-up and compared respectively.