Colchicine inhibits fracture union and reduces bone strength--in vivo study.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have demonstrated that Colchicine (CO) prevents heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip replacement in patients suffering from familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Other investigators have proved that CO is an in vitro inhibitor of proliferation of osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells, and is a non-selective mitosis inhibitor and selective inhibitor of mineralization.


METHODS
A double blind prospective study comprised four groups of adult rats. The left posterior tibia in each rat was fractured except in one of the control groups. The study groups were treated with CO 1 mg/kg/day 1 week before, or on the fracture day. The control groups did not receive CO treatment. Six weeks after fracture induction the groups were compared radiographically mechanically and histologically.


RESULTS
Prolonged CO treatment had a significant negative influence on fracture healing according to radiological, clinical, mechanical (p<0.02), and pathological parameters (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
We were able to demonstrate that prolonged CO treatment reduced bone healing.
Dudkiewicz
Israel
I
Department of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. dudke@netvision.net.il
Brosh
Tamar
T
Perelman
Marina
M
Salai
Moshe
M
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000187:drug effects*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine