Study shows hip fracture risk rises in the 10 years after total knee replacement

Could lack of load bearing activity right after the knee replacement cause this?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/iof-ssh041216.php

Public Release: 16-Apr-2016
Study shows hip fracture risk rises in the 10 years after total knee replacement
In a study presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases, Swedish researchers analyzed hip fracture risk before and after total knee replacement, based on data from the entire Swedish population
International Osteoporosis Foundation

Researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy in Molndal, Sweden have published preliminary results of a fracture risk study, which was based on analysis of medical records from 1987 to 2002 covering the entire Swedish population born between 1902 and 1952.

They were able to show that individuals with total knee replacement (TKR) due to primary osteoarthritis had a low risk for hip and vertebral fracture in the decade before surgery. However, after total knee replacement, the risk for hip fracture increased by 4% and the risk for vertebral fracture increased by 19% percent compared to the population without TKR.

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Lead author C. H. Vala, said, "Studies have shown that osteoarthritis is associated with higher bone mass, and, as well, there may be a decreased physical activity level due to pain. The increasing risk for hip and vertebral fracture in the 10 years after knee replacement may be explained by pain, increase of physical activity due to rehabilitation, and other biomechanical factors.

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