New Hope For Pelvic Fractures Using Forteo

Dr. Susan Bukata and Dr. J. Edward Puzas, at the University of Rochester Medical Center New York,recently found that Forteo, a genetically engineered fragment of human parathyroid hormone, can be used to speed fracture healing and reduce intense pain from pelvic and other non-healing fractures.

In February 2009, the Orthopedic Research Society, at Rochester, revealed the results of the 145 patients enrolled in their program. The patients all had non-healed fractures that persisted for 6 months or longer. When Forteo was administered, 93 percent of the group showed significant healing and almost complete elimination of pain due to their 12 week treatment with Forteo.

Dr. Bukata's and Puzas' patients had painful non-healing pelvic fractures, and as a result were confined to wheelchairs unable to perform simple daily living tasks, like walking, dressing and bathing. After weeks of Forteo use, these patients showed callus formation, and cessation of micromotion - movement of the broken bones - that causes incredible pain, and new bone growth since Forteo stimulated the bodys' own stem cell mechanism that causes faster healing and bone growth at the fracture site.

As a result of this study the National Institute of Health established a clinical trial in Rochester, headed by principle investigator Dr. J. Edward Puzas, Ph.D. to establish the benefits of Forteo in slow healing fracture patients. Funding will be provided by the National Institute of Health and Eli Lily will be supplying the drug.

The impetus for this study started in Dr. Bukata's clinic where patients with painful spine, and pelvic fractures were treated with Forteo with amazing results. The doctor noticed that after her patients started Forteo, their fracture healed and pain relief occurred in half the time it normally would if not treated with the hormone.

Forteo turns on the bodys' own stem cell mechanism and speeds healing in just 12 weeks. Normally patients suffered for many months before they healed or experienced any pain relief without Forteo.

Forteo (Teriparatide), manufactured by Eli Lily has been on the market since 2002 for the treatment of osteoporosis. Forteo is a daily sub cutaneous injection given by the patient in the thigh or stomach to increase the activation of osteoblasts, the cells that build new bone.

Why are pelvis fractures so painful?

Below is an X-ray that shows a broken pelvis. The area between the broken bones is seen as a dark space in the center of the horizontal bone that runs between both hips. When a patient has this type of fracture, any type of bodily movement, causes micromotion of the bone which is intensely painful. Since this type of fracture can't be splinted or braced, there is no way to stabilize the bone and prevent this movement. Once the bone begins to heal, a callus forms around the bone; this callus prevents the bones from moving and eliminates the debilitating pain caused by the bones micromotion.