For patients with cancer receiving a bone-modifying agent (bisphosphonate or denosumab) who suffer a fracture requiring stabilization or reconstruction, how do you manage the bone-modifying agent peri-operatively?
Is there concern for impaired healing? Do you pause therapy and for how long?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
There’s been suggestion that administering bone-modifying agents may delay or impair fracture healing, but it has not been borne out by the literature. The half-life in bone is actually quite long so whether treatment interruption makes a difference is questionable. Also, since most patients r...