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Bisphosphonate Treatment for Children With Disabling Conditions
Author(s) -
Boyce Alison M.,
Tosi Laura L.,
Paul Scott M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.10.009
Subject(s) - medicine , osteoporosis , bisphosphonate , bone mineral , bone density conservation agents , densitometry , bone resorption , bone density , vitamin d and neurology , physical therapy , dentistry , pediatrics , intensive care medicine
Fractures are a frequent source of morbidity in children with disabling conditions. The assessment of bone density in this population is challenging, because densitometry is influenced by dynamic forces affecting the growing skeleton and may be further confounded by positioning difficulties and surgical hardware. First‐line treatment for pediatric osteoporosis involves conservative measures, including optimizing the management of underlying conditions, maintaining appropriate calcium and vitamin D intake, encouraging weight‐bearing physical activity, and monitoring measurements of bone mineral density. Bisphosphonates are a class of medications that increase bone mineral density by inhibiting bone resorption. Although bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed for treatment of adult osteoporosis, their use in pediatric patients is controversial because of the lack of long‐term safety and efficacy data.