Evaluation of the Nature and Etiologies of Risk Factors for Diaphyseal Atypical Femoral Fractures

Abstract

Objectives: Differences in mechanisms of subtrochanteric and diaphyseal atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are speculated in studies that analyzed differences in the patients’ background. However, the etiologies of each type of AFF have not been studied in detail. This study aimed to investigate the nature and etiologies of the risk factors for diaphyseal AFFs. Materials and Methods: Eighty consecutive Japanese patients with 91 diaphyseal AFFs (AFF group) and 110 age-matched women with osteoporosis (non-AFF control group) were included. Their clinical data were compared; factors affecting AFFs were investigated, and the etiologies of the risk factors for diaphyseal AFFs were examined. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that femoral serrated changes, bisphosphonate or denosumab usage, and lateral and anterior femoral curvatures were risk factors for diaphyseal AFFs (p < 0.0011, p = 0.0137, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that serrated changes and low serum 25(OH)D levels affected the lateral curvature (p = 0.0088 and 0.0205, respectively), while serrated changes affected the anterior curvature (p = 0.0006), each significantly affected the femoral curvature. High serum calcium (Ca) levels, lateral femoral curvature, and anterior femoral curvature were predictors of serrated changes (p = 0.0146, 0.0002, and 0.0098, respectively). Conclusion: Risk factors for diaphyseal AFFs were bone resorption inhibitor usage, a strong femoral curvature, and serrated changes. Low serum 25(OH)D levels and serrated changes are risk factors for lateral curvature, while a high serum Ca level is a risk factor for serrated changes.