Effect of strontium ranelate on fracture healing in rat tibia

Objectives: Various anti-osteoporotic agents are available for clinical use. In contrast to other anti-osteoporotic drugs, strontium ranelate has anti-resorptive and bone-forming effects (dual action). Our objective in the present study is to investigate the efficacy of strontium ranelate (SR) on fracture healing in rat tibia. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats randomized into two groups (groups 1 and 2, n = 21 for each). Left tibiae of all animals were broken in a closed manner using a manual three-point bending technique through mid-tibia following deep anesthesia with ketamine. The animals in group 1 were fed 25 g/day specially produced food containing 450 mg/kg SR starting from the first post-operative day. Group 2 were given 25 g/day normal food. The animals were sacrificed on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th post-operative weeks (each week 7 animals were sacrificed from each group) and the broken tibiae were removed. The tibiae were examined first radiographically and second, histopathologically. Results: Radiologically, callus maturity and bone union increased with time in both groups. But no significant differences were found regarding callus maturity and bone union in weekly comparisons (p = 0.52, p = 0.19, p = 0.74). Conclusions: Histopathologically, it was seen that the fractures remarkably heated steadily in both groups on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th post-operative weeks. But no significant differences were found regarding the progression of fracture callus in weekly comparison (p = 1.0, p = 0.52, p = 1.0). In the present study, we were unable to find any beneficial or harmful effects of strontium ranelate on fracture healing. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.