Effects of Teriparatide and Alendronate on Vertebral Strength as Assessed by Finite Element Modeling of QCT Scans in Women With Osteoporosis

Abstract

These results provide new insight into the effects of these treatments on estimated biomechanical properties of the vertebra. Both treatments positively affected predicted vertebral strength through their effects on average BMD, but the magnitudes of the effects were quite different. Teriparatide also affected vertebral strength by altering the distribution of density within the vertebra, so that overall, teriparatide had a 5-fold greater percentage increase in the strength:density ratio.