Is Teriparatide Superior in Treating Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures in Comparison to Bisphosphonates Treatment Alone: A 2-Year Retrospective Analysis

Study design: Retrospective cohort study.Purpose: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of bisphosphonates and teriparatide in the management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with regard to pain management, prevention of nonunion, and radiological as well as clinical outcomes.Overview of literature: Osteoporosis refers to a skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone strength caused by poor bone density and quality causing fragility, resulting in long periods of pain-related immobilization.Methods: In a 24-month follow-up retrospective study, 191 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were randomly assigned to the bisphosphonate group (n=104) or the teriparatide group (n=87), with patients opting for their treatment between January 2016 and October 2020. Demographic data and patient-reported outcomes scores, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), union rates, and kyphosis progression, were assessed at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after treatment.Results: Both groups had a significant decrease in VAS, from 8.38 +/- 0.74 to 3.15 +/- 1.40 in the bisphosphonate group and from 8.49 +/- 0.73 to 1.11 +/- 0.31 in the teriparatide group. The ODI scores reduced significantly at 2-year follow-ups, recording 25.02 +/- 13.94 and 15.11 +/- 2.17 in the bisphosphonate and teriparatide groups, respectively. Risks of nonunion development were slightly higher at 11.53% in the bisphosphonate group and 8.63% in the teriparatide group required operative intervention. The kyphosis progression angles were also significantly lower in the teriparatide group (4.97 degrees +/- 0.78 degrees) than in the bisphosphonate group (8.09 degrees +/- 1.25 degrees).Conclusions: Over time, numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of bisphosphonates and teriparatide in ameliorating pain. In this study, the efficacy of teriparatide surpassed that of bisphosphonates in certain aspects, such as the initial 6-month union rates and reduction in the progression of segmental kyphosis. However, bisphosphonates and teriparatide yield similar and favorable union rates at 1 year and final follow-up.