title: Is there an inhibitory effect of COX-2 inhibitors on bone healing?
abstract: The use of the new selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors (such as celecoxib and rofecoxib) for the treatment of pain and inflammation caused by fractures, cementless total joint replacements, soft tissue healing to bone, and spinal fusion surgeries has been controversial due to the convincing data collected from nonspecific NSAIDs such as indomethacin and naproxen regarding their inhibitory effects on bone healing and the similar effects of COX-2 specific NSAIDs in animal models. Is there a significant inhibitory effect of COX-2 inhibitors on bone healing in humans? To answer this question, we reviewed existing scientific evidence (based mainly on a MedLine search) of the potential effects of COX-2 inhibitors on bone healing. The literature shows that COX-2 inhibitors do have inhibitory effects on bone healing in animal models, but the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on similar processes in humans remain largely unknown.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 708, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Seidenberg
authors.forename: Yuehuei H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors