Need help? Call Toll Free: 1-888-824-3400

Leg Breaks Linked to Long-Term Fosamax and Other Osteoporosis Drug Use

Did you know that Fosamax and other osteoporosis drugs can cause serious injury, including femur or leg breaks?

Long-term use of the drug Fosamax and other bisphosphonates, including Actonel, Boniva, and Reclast (all drugs used to prevent loss of bone mass), have been linked to femur or leg breaks in post-menopausal women according to a recent report released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

ABC did a news report on Fosamax femur fractures during a special entitled, "Fosamax: Is Long Term Use of Bone Strengthening Drug Linked to Fractures?"

Considering that these drugs are supposed to prevent osteoporosis, or the loss of necessary minerals, such as calcium, in the bones, the fact that they actually aide in the breaking of bones is unsettling. Loss of minerals from these drugs results in loss of bone thickness and mass, making patients more susceptible to bone fractures.

You probably did not even know that these drugs could lead to injury. But if you are a post-menopausal woman who has been taking Fosamax or similar drugs to treat osteoporosis, and you have suffered a fractured femur, then you need to consult an attorney immediately.

How is a femur or thigh bone fracture treated?

Femur fractures are serious injuries that need extensive treatment and recovery time. Depending on the severity of the fracture, the best treatment often happens to be surgery.

There are two types of femur fractures - displaced and undisplaced. An undisplaced femur fracture means that while the thigh bone is still fractured, the ends of the broken bones remain in place. A displaced fracture means that the broken ends of the bone are out of place, which requires surgery to get them back to where they should be.

Treatments for femur fractions include:

• Surgery--The most common surgery involves an intramedullary rod, which the surgeon inserts down the center of the thigh bone. This permanently connects the two ends of the bone, with screws placed above and below the fracture.
  
• External Fixation--Using plates, screws, and a series of external rings surrounding the thigh, external fixation immobilizes the leg and bone, allowing it to heal properly.
• Bed rest and traction--To prevent the bone from shortening while it heals, traction is performed by passing a steel rod through the bottom of the femur, pulling on it, then using a splint to keep it in place. This option involves staying in bed for roughly three months.

As you can imagine, all of these options carry very high risks.

Risks associated with the different types of femur fracture treatments include:

• Reaction to the anesthesia
• Bleeding
• Cardio and pulmonary problems
• Infections
• Non-healing wounds
• Pressure sores, pneumonia, or blood clots in the legs from extensive bed rest
• Shortened femur
• Bent or disfigured femur

What do I do if I've suffered an atypical femoral fracture while on Fosamax?

Contact an experienced Fosamax femur break lawyer IMMEDIATELY.

As you can see in the treatments and risks previously discussed, the devastation caused by femur fractures can be very expensive.

You probably don't know how to handle the situation, especially at a time when all you want is to feel better.

Some of the questions that you are probably asking yourself are:

• How is my Fosamax drug use connected to my long bone fracture?
• Who is responsible for this injury?
• Who is going to pay my medical bills?
• Will I be able to go back to work?
• What about my lost wages from not being able to go to my job?
• What kind of expenses will the femur break cause?

These are all important questions that the lawyers at the Bisphosphonates Litigation Group have answered before.

They have extensive knowledge when it comes to helping consumers who have used Fosamax, Actenol, Boniva, or Reclast and have suffered a fractured femur.

The Bisphosphonates Litigation Group is a national leader and fighter for its clients against the mega-pharmaceutical company, Merck, which manufactures Fosamax.

Why choose Bisphosphonates Litigation Group (BLG)?

• It is a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, which is already handling these cases in a Federal court of law.
• BLG is part of the New Jersey Discovery Committee and therefore has obtained extensive information on all types of cases involving Fosamax and Merck.
• Cases out there just like yours are being fought by BLG on a national level.
• BLG personally handles each and every individual case, which means that you will have direct and frequent communication with your attorney and his staff members.
• Your case will not be referred to a giant corporate firm.
• BLG uses surgeon experts, epidemiology experts, and drug study investigators to prove your case.

If you or someone you care about has suffered a femur fracture while taking Fosamax or other osteoporosis and bisphosphonate drugs, then contact the Bisphosphonates Litigation Group at 888.824.3400. It has won multi-million dollar verdicts for its clients, while providing outstanding personal service.

Reclast

Fosamax

Boniva

Back to Top

The Bisphosphonates Litigation Group handles bisphosphonate femur break cases all over the United States. It helps patients who have suffered thigh bone fractures while taking bisphosphonates like Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D, Alendronate, Boniva, Reclast, Actonel, Actonel with Calcium, and Atelvia.