Early initiation of zoledronic acid does not impact bone healing or clinical outcomes of hallux valgus orthomorphia

OBJECTIVE: This prospective randomized controlled study was performed to determine whether early drug use for osteoporosis impacts bone healing after orthomorphic surgery for hallux valgus (HV) in menopausal patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: This study included 113 consecutive patients with osteoporosis who underwent a combination of Lapidus arthrodesis and Akin osteotomy for treatment of HV. The patients were randomly divided into a zoledronic acid (ZOL) group (5-mg intravenous injection of ZOL, n = 56) and a placebo group (n = 57); both ZOL and placebo were administered 1 week postoperatively. Radiographs were taken preoperatively and at 1, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks postoperatively to record the time of the first tarsometatarsal joint (FTJ) fusion and Akin osteotomy site healing. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system 24 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the FTJ fusion time after Lapidus arthrodesis, healing time after Akin osteotomy, or postoperative AOFAS scores between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Early initiation of ZOL does not impact the bone healing or clinical outcomes of orthomorphic surgery for HV in postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis after a combination of Lapidus arthrodesis and Akin osteotomy.