| Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and the influence of Qianggu capsules combined with salmon calcitonin injection in the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures in the elderly. Methods Two hundred and fifty-seven patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures were randomly divided into 3 groups. Patients in the observation group took oral medication of Qianggu capsules, combined with an intramuscular injection of salmon calcitonin injection. Patients in control group I took oral medication of Qianggu capsules only, and patients in control group II were intramuscularly injected with salmon calcitonin injection only. The clinical efficacy was observed. Bone mineral density (BMD) and the serum levels of osteocalcin (BGP), calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were detected before and after the treatment. Urinary contents of calcium, hydroxyproline, and creatinine were also detected. The calcium/creatinine ratio and hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio in urine were calculated. Results The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group I and the control group II (P<0.05). After the treatment, BMD in all 3 groups increased obviously, and pain scores decreased significantly (P<0.01), especially in the observation group (P<0.05). Serum level of BGP in 3 groups increased significantly after the treatment compared with that before the treatment (P<0.05 or 0.01), while the level of alkaline phosphatase and the ratio of hydroxyproline/creatinine decreased significantly (P<0.05 or 0.01), especially in the observation group. After the treatment, the serum level of calcium in the control group I and observation group decreased significantly than that before the treatment (P<0.05), but no significant difference among 3 groups was observed (P>0.05). After the treatment, no significant changes of serum phosphorus and urinary calcium/creatinine in 3 groups were observed, and no significant difference among 3 groups was observed (P>0.05). Conclusion The efficacy of Qianggu capsules combined with salmon calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly is assured. It can relieve pain, promote fracture healing, reduce the recurrence of fractures, and has no obvious adverse reaction. |