Abstract:Objective The aim was to compare the efficacy of denosumab and zoledronic acid in the treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly, with a particular focus on the differences between these two medications in improving bone density, affecting serum bone metabolism markers, reducing the recurrence of fractures, and the incidence of adverse reactions.Methods 105 elderly female patients with osteoporosis admitted to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hanzhong Central Hospital from June 2022 to June 2024 were selected and divided into the denosumab group (45 cases) and the zoledronic acid group (60 cases) according to different treatment methods. General clinical data of patients in both groups were collected. Patients in the denosumab group received subcutaneous injection once every 6 months for 1 year, while those in the zoledronic acid group received intravenous infusion once a year. Before treatment and 1 year after treatment, bone mineral density changes were detected by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and serum bone metabolic markers [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), β-crosslaps, total N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), N-terminal osteocalcin (N-MID OC) ] were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The incidence of adverse reactions (back pain, limb pain, musculoskeletal pain, hypercholesterolemia, cystitis) and recurrent fractures in both groups were recorded, and the incidence of adverse reactions and fragility fractures was calculated. Data of the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences in general clinical data, bone mineral density, or serum bone metabolic markers between the two groups (P > 0.05), indicating comparability. After 1 year of treatment, bone mineral density and 25OHD levels were significantly higher in the denosumab group than in the zoledronic acid group (P < 0.05), while levels of total N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, β-crosslaps and N-terminal osteocalcin were significantly lower (P < 0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions and the rate of recurrent fragility fractures in the denosumab group were both lower than those in the zoledronic acid group (P < 0.05).Conclusion In the treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly, denosumab demonstrated superior efficacy over zoledronic acid in improving bone density, enhancing serum bone metabolism markers, reducing the recurrence rate of fractures, and decreasing adverse reactions.