Original Research
Effects of a Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitor on Fracture Healing in a Rat Model
Am J Orthop. 2008 July;37(7):E133-E137
Author and Disclosure Information
Michael A. Herbenick, MD, Dominic Sprott, MBBS, Harold Stills, DVM, and Matthew Lawless, MD
Dr. Herbenick is Assistant Professor, Dr. Sprott is Research Assistant, Dr. Stills is Associate professor, and Dr. Lawless is Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
Since the advent of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors, little research has been done on the effects of these medications on fracture healing. In the study reported here, we sought to determine whether a COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, affects strength and amount of healing callus formed after a fracture. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated for impairment of fracture healing with celecoxib use. Compared with controls, celecoxib-treated rats had a significant decrease in force required for refracture (P = .0199). We do not recommend routine use of celecoxib in postfracture pain control, particularly when fracture union is tenuous.