943 - Salmon Calcitonin Versus Vertebral Augmentation in Acute Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Thursday, February 19, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

AB

Aaron M. Bernal, n/a

Medical Student
University of The Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Boerne, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

AS

Austin Smith, MS

Medical Student
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
San Antonio, Texas, United States
MM

Madeleine N. Mitcham, MA

Medical Student
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
San Antonio, Texas, United States
JN

Jacob Nieves, BS

Medical Student
The University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine
Pearland, Texas, United States
JM

Jerod McCarrell, DO

Resident Physician
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States
JE

James E. Eubanks, Jr., MD, MS

Assistant Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Submitter(s)

AB

Aaron M. Bernal

University of The Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Boerne, Texas, United States

Objectives: Salmon Calcitonin has demonstrated efficacy in increasing bone mineral density and reducing the incidence of vertebral fractures by approximately 33% when administered intranasally. This study compares outcomes of patients treated with Percutaneous Vertebroplasty (PVP)/Kyphoplasty (PKP) versus Salmon Calcitonin in the setting of acute vertebral compression fractures (VCF).

Design:
Case-control retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: We used the TriNetX Database, which contains de-identified electronic health record data from across the United States, to select patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. This study is exempt from IRB review as determined by the University of Texas Medical Branch IRB.

Participants: Cohort A (Osteoporosis + VCF + PKP/PVP), 2,512 patients; mean age of 79.4 土 10.3 years) and Cohort B (Osteoporosis + VCF + Salmon Calcitonin), 2,512 patients; mean age of 81.6 土 10.1 years) after propensity score matching.

Interventions: Cohort A received surgical intervention either through PKP or PVP (SUR) while Cohort B received Intranasal Salmon Calcitonin (ISC) for treatment of VCF.

Main Outcome Measures: We measured the incidence of emboli, infections, vertebral fractures, inflammatory spondylopathy, and medication usage for NSAIDs and opioids. Propensity score matching was utilized to mitigate potential confounders.

Results: Analysis revealed the SUR cohort demonstrated higher rates of vertebral fractures at 17.4% compared to 6.40% for the ISC cohort (p< 0.001). Inflammatory Spondylopathy rates were higher in the SUR cohort at 51.0% in contrast to 47.7% for ISC (p< 0.003). The instances of medication usage for NSAIDs and opioids was higher in the SUR cohort at 6.24 compared to 5.77 in the ISC cohort (p< 0.047).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest intranasal Salmon Calcitonin may offer a safer, less invasive alternative to vertebral augmentation in acute osteoporotic compression fractures. Compared to surgical intervention, ISC was associated with fewer subsequent fractures, lower inflammatory complications, and reduced analgesic reliance, highlighting its role in optimizing non-surgical management.