EFFECTS OF KETORALAC TROMETHAMINE AND INDOMETHACIN ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BONE HEALING - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN RATS

Ketoralac tromethamine is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug t hat is being used extensively as an analgesic in orthopaedic surgery, particularly for outpatient procedures, However, as with all non-stero idal anti-inflammatory drugs there have been theoretical concerns abou t the effect of the drug with regard to bone metabolism and healing. I n the present study bone healing of femoral osteotomies was evaluated in rats given ketoralac tromethamine in comparison with two other grou ps of rats given indomethacin and saline (control group), respectively . Under unstable healing conditions, 3 days of medication with indomet hacin significantly reduced the femoral bending moment, bending rigidi ty and energy expenditure compared with the control group. Such impair ment of mechanical characteristics was not: found during the first 3 d ays after osteotomy in rats given ketoralac tromethamine. There were n o significant differences in mechanical properties between the three g roups when healing occurred under stable conditions.