In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, teriparatide and raloxifene may significantly reduce the risk of vertebral fractures. Mary L. Bouxsein, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues analyzed data from the Fracture Prevention Trial and the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation Trial to determine the incidences of new adjacent and new nonadjacent vertebral fractures. Their analysis included 1226 untreated postmenopausal women with 1 or more prevalent vertebral fractures at baseline. Compared with placebo, the researchers found that teriparatide was associated with a 72% reduced risk of a new vertebral fracture and a significantly reduced risk of a new adjacent and new nonadjacent vertebral fracture (75% and 70%, respectively). They also found that raloxifene was associated with a 54% reduced risk of a new vertebral fracture and a reduced risk of a new adjacent and new nonadjacent vertebral fracture (54% and 53%, respectively).

Bouxsein ML, Chen P, Glass EV, et al. Teriparatide and raloxifene reduce the risk of new adjacent vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Results from two randomized controlled trials. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91(6):1329-1338.