OSTEOPOROSIS AND JOINT REPLACEMENT

Over the past few decades, the number of implantation of endoprosthetic joint replacements has steadily increased. Many patients who need joint replacements are of older age and have a reduced bone quality due to osteoporosis. In patients with joint replacements and osteoporosis complications are often seen: intraoperative periprosthetic fractures, periprosthetic osteolysis, increased implant migration or postoperative periprosthetic fractures. The evaluation of bone quality therefore seems an essential point in patient management to provide the best possible care and to optimize long term surgical outcomes. If necessary, patients should be educated about a possible calcium and vitamin D supplementation. In addition, it seems reasonable to aim for physiological vitamin D levels perioperatively. In postmenopausal women, men over 70 years and both women and men with an increased risk of osteoporosis within two years of implantation of a total joint replacement a bone mineral density measurement should be performed. In patients with reduced bone quality, treatment with bisphosphonates, denosumab or teriparatide should be considered in order to improve the osseous integration of cementless implants, to increase the lifespan of implants as well as to reduce periprosthetic fractures and fractures in general. In individual cases of patients with osteoporosis cementation of prosthetic components (especially in total hip replacements) may be required.