Calcitonin for treating acute pain of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials.

Abstract

Vertebral collapse is one of the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis. The subsequent back pain is severe and often requires medications, bed rest and hospitalization to control pain and improve mobilization. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effects of calcitonin versus placebo for the treatment of acute pain in patients sustaining stable, recent, osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. MEDLINE (1966-2003), EMBASE (1980-2003), Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry (2003, volume 3), other databases, and conference proceedings were searched for relevant research. Primary study authors and the pharmaceutical manufacturer were contacted, and bibliographies of relevant papers were hand-searched. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials comparing calcitonin versus placebo for the acute pain of recent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were included. Two reviewers extracted data, performed numeric calculations and extrapolated graphical data independently. The combined results from five randomized controlled trials, involving 246 patients, determined that calcitonin significantly reduced the severity of pain using a visual analogue scale following diagnosis. Pain at rest was reduced as early as 1 week into treatment (weighted mean difference [WMD] =3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.64, 3.52) and this effect continued weekly to 4 weeks (WMD =4.03; 95% CI: 3.70, 4.35). A similar pattern was seen for pain scores associated with sitting, standing, and walking. Side effects were gastrointestinal, minor and often self-limited. Calcitonin appears to be effective in the management of acute pain associated with acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures by shortening time to mobilization.

• Authors: Jennifer A Knopp, Barry M Diner, Maurice Blitz, George P Lyritis, Brian H Rowe
• Journal: Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA (Osteoporos Int) Vol. 16 Issue 10 Pg. 1281-90 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0937-941X [Print] England
• PMID: 15614441 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Bone Density Conservation Agents
• Calcitonin

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Back Pain (drug therapy, etiology)
• Bone Density Conservation Agents (therapeutic use)
• Calcitonin (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fractures, Compression (etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Osteoporosis (complications)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Spinal Fractures (etiology)