Piroxicam-induced reduction in osteopenia after external fixation of rabbit tibia.

Twelve rabbits were treated with a unilateral external fixator in one tibia for 12 weeks, while the other tibia served as an intact control. Half of the animals were also treated with 10 mg/kg/day of piroxicam, given in two daily oral doses. Changes in bone mineral content were determined using single photon absorptiometry. After 12 weeks, we found a 3 percent decrease in the bone mineral content in the tibia of the animals treated with piroxicam versus 9 percent in the nonpiroxicam group (P = 0.04). In the femurs, there was an insignificant decrease in bone mineral, 2 percent (piroxicam) and 1 percent (nonpiroxicam) respectively. The results indicate that piroxicam may reduce the osteopenia caused by external fixation.