The femur, also known as the thighbone, is the sturdiest bone in your body. Suffering a fracture is not an everyday occurrence so it can be a traumatic experience if it does happen. Usually, it involves a direct impact like being in a car accident or falling from great heights. However, when a femur fracture occurs during regular activities such as standing, walking or bending, it is extremely atypical. This should raise a serious red flag if you have experienced an atypical femur fracture from everyday activities. Some drugs like Boniva may increase the risk of atypical femur fracture if patients take them on a long-term basis.  Many women across the nation have reported serious bone fractures and injuries after taking Boniva.

Atypical femur fractures (AFF) are newly defined and are a rare type of femoral trauma fracture possibly associated with extended bisphosphonate treatment. Atypical femur fractures have a signature horizontal structure and sometimes happen after a fall from standing height and often without any apparent cause. The fractures occur in about seven out of 10,000 people, mostly women age 60 or older. About a third of those who have suffered this type of Boniva femur fracture feel the pain before it occurs and about 20-percent who experienced the fracture in one leg will go on to experience a similar fracture in the other leg.

Boniva is drug known as bisphosphonate which is used to treat and prevent certain types of bone loss like osteoporosis and Paget’s Disease. It is also recommended to help regulate high levels of calcium in cancer patients’ blood. Boniva changes the cycle of bone development and breakdown in the body used to prevent osteoporosis usually in women who have been through menopause.  Boniva was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003.

Bones are in a continuous state of rebuilding but after age 30, a woman’s bones begin to dissipate faster than they can be restored, and after menopause, she may develop weak, thin bones that can be easily broken. Boniva slows down this process. It is integrated into the newly developed bone and can stay there for many years even after patients stop taking them. Overall, most people who take Boniva to treat osteoporosis will suffer less bone density issues and broken bones, however, a few will experience a Boniva femur fracture if they continue to take them for three or more years.

Boniva has been known to cause a variety of adverse side effects over the past couple of years. Some of the most common side effects are:

• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Back pain
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Redness or swelling of your eyes
• Flu-like symptoms
• Indigestion
• Nausea or stomach upset
• Allergic reaction
• Pain in your arms or legs
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Joint pain
• Spinning sensation
• Pneumonia
• Usual pain in the thigh or hip
• New or worsening heartburn
• Urinary tract infection
• Upper respiratory infection
• Redness or swelling where Boniva was injected

Some of the more serious side effects include:

• Femur Fractures
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Esophageal Cancer
• Severe Musculoskeletal Pain
• Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (also known as Dead Jaw Syndrome)

Recently much attention has been given to the possible correlation between the use of Boniva and femur fractures.

Studies have shown that bisphosphonates like Boniva can result in significant destruction of bone transformation. Researchers are noticing that many people who experience atypical femur fractures were taking Boniva for long periods of time.

A study conducted in the February 23, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that bisphosphonate (Boniva) use nearly triples the risk of atypical femur fractures in those who have taken the medication for longer than five years.

An earlier study released in the March 20, 2010 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who took Boniva for more than five years suffered unusually high rates of femur fractures. The study concluded that bisphosphonate use and femur fractures are correlated.

Prior to the publication of the studies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first issued an alert to physicians in January 2010 concerning the possibility of severe bone fracture related to bisphosphonate treatment. As researchers continue to study these drugs, they found that the correlation between bisphosphonate and atypical femur fractures continues to increase. Studies have also shown that the risk of atypical femur fracture declines rapidly after patients discontinue the use of Boniva.

For most people, suffering a femur fracture can be life-altering. Undergoing a surgery to fix a fractured femur can be challenging and exhausting. Long-term care and rehabilitation afterward are necessary and can be very costly even after health insurance pays part of it.  It’s a cost that should be made accountable by the responsible parties.

Filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Boniva can help you and your family, affected by this defective drug, recover the compensation you need to pay for long-term care and extensive treatment.

If you or someone you love suffered a Boniva femur fracture, you may have probable legal claims to stand up against the drug companies or manufacturer responsible. You may be entitled to monetary compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. For more information, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

I’m Edward Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. If you or someone you love sustained injuries from a femur fracture after taking Boniva, you may be entitled to file a Boniva lawsuit and receive compensation for your pain and injuries. Contact me at 916.921.6400 for friendly, free advice.

I am part of the California chapter of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Our members are some of the elite lawyers in the nation. Our attorneys have won verdicts and settlements of millions of dollars. View some of the verdicts and settlements.

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