RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-42285
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Testosterone is a Potent Accelerator of Fracture Healing: Early Structural Reconstruction and Improved Biomechanical Stability
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
24. September 2003 (online)
Abstract
Sex steroids (e. g., estrogen and testosterone) are known to have an integral function in skeletal homeostasis. Though they are known to improve bone strength, their role in fracture healing has not been well defined. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of testosterone on skeletal repair mechanisms, in order to test the hypothesis that sex steroids could be used to accelerate fracture healing after intramedullary nailing. Fracture healing was studied in 60 eugonadal female and male mice treated either with testosterone or placebo. To make mouse models accessible to fracture modulation studies that also allow biomechanical analysis, we modified the Einhorn tibial fracture model and developed a standardized closed femur fracture model. Mice treated with testosterone showed a significant acceleration of fracture healing. Callus size as assessed by contact-radiography and microCT was significantly enhanced. This beneficial effect could be demonstrated in female as well as in male mice. Furthermore, not only radiological and histological data demonstrated a positive morphological interference of testosterone with the fracture healing process, but also the functional competence, as assessed by three-point bending tests, was dramatically improved. This study shows that testosterone can be used to enhance and accelerate fracture healing.
Key words
Sex steroids - biomechanics - fracture repair
References
- 1 Anonymous. Consensus development conference: diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Am J Med. 1993; 94 646-650
- 2 Bonnarens F, Einhorn T A. Production of a standard closed fracture in laboratory animal bone. J Orthop Res. 1984; 2 97-101
- 3 Howell S, Shalet S. Testosterone deficiency and replacement. Horm Res. 2001; 56 (Suppl 1) 86-92
- 4 Lieberman J R, Daluiski A, Einhorn T A. The role of growth factors in the repair of bone. Biology and clinical applications. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 2002; 84 1032-1044
- 5 Riggs B L, Khosla S, Melton L J. Sex steroids and the construction and conservation of the adult skeleton. Endocr Rev. 2002; 23 279-302
1 * These authors contributed equally and therefore share first authorship.
PD Dr. Michael Amling
Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Martinistrasse 52
20246 Hamburg
Germany
Telefon: +49/40-4 28 03-60 83
Fax: +49/40-4 28 03-80 10
eMail: amling@uke.uni-hamburg.de