Parecoxib has non-significant long-term effects on bone healing in rats when administered for a short period after fracture.
BACKGROUND
Selective and non-selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitors impair bone healing by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of parecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on bone healing in rats, when it is applied in a pattern similar to clinical treatment patterns, that is, in a high dose and for a short period after bone fracture.


METHODS
Closed non-displaced mid-diaphyseal fractures in the middle of the left femoral shaft were generated in each animal. In the study group, parecoxib sodium (1.06 mg/kg) was administered intra-peritoneally every day for 7 days. In the control group, normal saline was administered intra-peritoneally every day for 7 days. In both groups fracture healing (bone union and callus formation) was evaluated with X-rays 28 and 42 days after surgery.


RESULTS
Bone healing was lower in the study group (60 vs. 80% in the control group 28 days after fracture and 80 vs. 90% 42 days after fracture) but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Parecoxib does not have a significant long-term effect on bone healing in rats, when it is administered in a high dose and for a short period after bone fracture.
Akritopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papaioannidou
Paraskevi
P
Hatzokos
Ippokratis
I
Haritanti
Afroditi
A
Iosifidou
Eirini
E
Kotoula
Maria
M
Mirtsou-Fidani
Vassiliki
V
D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007555:Isoxazoles; C409945:parecoxib