Atilla Koçer1, Mithat Öner2, İbrahim Karaman2, Derya Koçer3, İbrahim Halil Kafadar2, Ahmet Güney2, Zehra Filiz Karaman4. 1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. 2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. 3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. 4. Department of Radiology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
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). CONCLUSION: According to biochemical, radiological and histopathological results, local application of simvastatin appears to produce beneficial effects on the mouse femur nonunion model.
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). CONCLUSION: According to biochemical, radiological and histopathological results, local application of simvastatin appears to produce beneficial effects on the mouse femur nonunion model.