title: The effects of locally applied simvastatin on an experimental mouse femur nonunion model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effects of locally applied simvastatin on femur nonunions in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 32 male Wistar albino mice randomly allocated to one of four groups: two control groups (control-4 week [C4w] and control-8 week (C8w)] and two treatment groups (simvastatin-4 week [S4w] and simvastatin-8 week [S8w]). The control groups received dimethylsulfoxide locally injected at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day after surgical intervention for 1 week. Treatment groups received a liquefied form of simvastatin locally to the osteotomy field by injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, starting from the first postoperative day for 1 week. The C4w and S4w groups were sacrificed 4 weeks and the C8w and S8w groups 8 weeks after the end of local treatment. Before sacrifice, intracardiac blood samples were retrieved for biochemical analysis and radiographies were taken. The right femurs of mice were then removed for histopathological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the control and treatment groups when evaluated radiologically. Significantly higher levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin values were found in the treatment groups than in the controls (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to biochemical, radiological and histopathological results, local application of simvastatin appears to produce beneficial effects on the mouse femur nonunion model.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Atilla
authors: A
authors: Koçer
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Mithat
authors: M
authors: Öner
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: İbrahim
authors: İ
authors: Karaman
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Derya
authors: D
authors: Koçer
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: İbrahim Halil
authors: İH
authors: Kafadar
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Güney
authors: Department of Radiology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Zehra Filiz
authors: ZF
authors: Karaman
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015675:Osteocalcin; D019821:Simvastatin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase