Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of zoledronic acid in conjunction with calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 in elderly individuals with osteoporotic hip fracture and its effects on bone density and bone metabolism markers. Between June 2020 and June 2022, a total of 240 elderly individuals with osteoporotic hip fracture were enrolled in the study. They were then allocated into two equal-sized groups, namely the observation group and the control group, with 120 individuals in each group. For the control group, calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 were taken orally at a dosage of 600 mg/day, while the observation group received an annual intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid, totaling 5 mg, in addition to the standard control group treatment. Following treatment duration of 1 y, a comparison was made between the two groups in terms of bone density, bone metabolism markers (alkaline phosphatase), serum calcium and phosphorus levels, pain intensity, and 36-item short form survey life quality scores. At the end of a 1 y treatment period, substantial advancements in bone density, bone metabolism markers (alkaline phosphatase), hip joint function, and overall life quality were evident in both groups. A remarkable reduction in hip pain was observed, with the observation group exhibiting greater improvement compared to the control group (p<0.05). To sum up, the utilization of zoledronic acid in conjunction with calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 has demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving bone metabolism, reducing pain, enhancing joint function, and elevating the life quality among elderly individuals with osteoporotic hip fractures. As such, this treatment approach warrants wide-scale adoption and promotion.