Is it possible to stop the osteolysis of the periprosthetic bone during re-endoprosthetics of the hip joint against the background of osteoporosis?

Abstract

Revision interventions due to aseptic instability show a marked upward trend, and one of the reasons is an increase in the number of people with osteoporosis in the population. The impaired bone metabolism in these cases persist even after re-endoprosthetics. The  authors aim to draw attention of trauma orthopaedists to the need to treat osteoporosis either before or immediately after the re-endoprosthetic surgery. A clinical case is presented. A 65-year-old patient T., 5 months after surgery, complained of persistent pain in the left hip joint radiating to the left knee joint, which intensified when walking, lameness, inability to move without additional support (two crutches), limited range of motion within the left hip joint that had undergone surgery (endoprosthesis). The patient had a history of femoral neck fracture associated with a low energy fall. The left hip joint re-endoprosthetics was performed due to aseptic instability of the femoral and acetabular components of the prosthetic implant. The diagnosed diseases included secondary osteoporosis, D-deficiency, hypocalcemia, and periprosthetic osteolysis. Given the increased intensity of resorption and the fact that the femoral neck fracture occurred with underlying secondary osteoporosis, it was decided to prescribe antiresorptive therapy with denosumab 60 mg once every 6 months combined with alfacalcidol and calcium supplement. Despite an objective 3-month delay in antiresorptive therapy initiation, the treatment result was achieved in the observed patient. In summary, denosumab 60 mg increases the effectiveness of re-endoprosthetics with underlying osteoporosis by reducing activity of the periprosthetic bone osteolysis.