Osteoporosis drugs are prescribed to prevent fragility fractures, which is the principal aim of the management of osteoporosis. However, if fracture does occur, then it is also important to promote a fast and uneventful healing process. Despite this, little is known about the effect of osteoporosis drugs on bone healing in humans. Strontium ranelate is an osteoporosis agent that increases bone formation and reduces bone resorption and may therefore be beneficial in fracture healing. We report four cases of fracture non-union for up to 20 months. Treatment with strontium ranelate (2 g/day) for between 6 weeks and 6 months appeared to contribute to bone consolidation in the four cases. Animal studies support beneficial effects of strontium ranelate on bone healing via improvement of bone material properties and microarchitecture in the vicinity of the fracture. The clinical cases described herein provide new information on these effects, in the absence of randomized controlled studies on the clinical efficacy of pharmacological treatments in osteoporosis in fracture repair. Further studies are necessary. Fracture healing is an important topic in orthopedic research and is also a concern for patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Evidence from case reports and animal studies suggests that strontium ranelate improves bone microarchitecture and accelerates fracture healing. A positive effect of osteoporosis treatments on bone healing is an interesting possibility and merits further clinical research.

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Objective: To evaluate the results from subcutaneous anterior transposition of the cubital nerve for treating cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the influence of prognostic factors such as preoperative McGowan stage, age and duration of symptoms. Methods: 36 patients with CTS who underwent subcutaneous anterior transposition of the cubital nerve between 2006 and 2009 were evaluated after an average follow-up of 28 months. Their mean age was 41.6 years. Nine patients were in McGowan stage I, 18 in stage II and nine in stage III. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in sensory and motor deficits. 78% of the patients with severe neuropathy improved after surgery. According to the modified Bishop score, 21 patients (58.3%) had excellent results, seven (19.4%) good, six (16.7%) satisfactory and two (5.55%) poor. The satisfaction rate was 86% and 72% of the patients recovered their daily activities without limitations. Conclusion: The severity of neuropathy and preoperative duration of symptoms, but not age, had a negative influence on the outcome. The subcutaneous anterior transposition of the cubital nerve is safe and effective for treating CTS of different degrees of severity. Given the major prognostic factors identified, surgical treatment should be advised as soon as axonal loss has become clinically evident.

after surgery. According to the modified Bishop score, 21 patients (58.3%) had excellent results, seven (19.4%) good, six (16.7%) satisfactory and two (5.55%) poor. The satisfaction rate was 86% and 72% of the patients recovered their daily activities without limitations. Conclusion: The severity of neuropathy and preoperative duration of symptoms, but not age, had a negative influence on the outcome. The subcutaneous anterior transposition of the cubital nerve is safe and effective for treating CTS of different degrees of severity. Given the major prognostic factors identified, surgical treatment should be advised as soon as axonal loss has become clinically evident.

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