Teriparatide in the treatment of non-unions : Scientific and clinical evidences

INTRODUCTION: Each fracture has a failing risk which can lead to a non-union. Among the non-invasive strategies proposed to improve bone healing, also in non-union, the use of teriparatide, a drug for the treatment of the osteoporosis, has increasing supporting data. EXPERIMENTAL DATA: Many studies mainly on rats, but also on primates, demonstrate the positive effect on fracture healing of teriparatide, both in physiological and pathological conditions, with a more rapid evolution of the reparative callus. CLINICAL DATA: A double blinded randomized controlled study on wrist fractures demonstrated a positive effect, in term of healing speed, of teriparatide at the dose of 20 μg/day, but not at the higher dose of 40 μg/day. A prospectic randomized study on pelvic fractures showed a faster healing in teriparatide treated patients. The use of teriparatide in non-unions is reported as effective in numerous case report. The effect of teriparatide seems very useful in the non-unions consequent to an atypical femoral fracture after long-term administration of bisphosphonates. CONCLUSIONS: A conceivable positive effect of teriparatide on fracture healing is well-documented on animals, and very likely on humans, however further studies are needed to confirm these hopeful hypotheses.