Simvastatin improves spinal fusion in rats


Bostan B., Güneş T., AŞCI M., Şen C., Keleştemur M. H., ERDEM M., ...Daha Fazla

Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, cilt.45, sa.4, ss.270-275, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 45 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2011
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3944/aott.2011.2526
  • Dergi Adı: Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.270-275
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Bmp, Pseudoarthrosis, Simvastatin, Spinal fusion, Statin
  • Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Objective: Statins stimulate bone formation by inducing the expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2). The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of orally administered simvastatin on spinal fusion in rats. Methods: Twenty rats were randomized into a spinal fusion group (SF) (n=10) or a spinal fusion and oral simvastatin administered group (SFS) (n=10). A spinal fusion was performed between L4-L6 representing two levels. Simvastatin (120 mg/kg/day) was administered orally in the SFS group. The rats were killed at the end of the 12 week study period. Results: Manual palpation revealed two moderate fusions in the SF group. The SFS group did not reveal any signs of pseudoarthrosis. An average three-point bending force causing failure of fusion revealed results of 148.80±39.403 Newtons and 123.80±28.479 Newtons in SFS and SF groups, respectively (p>0.05). Histological examination revealed better fusion grades in the SFS group (mean: 9.30±0.949) than in the SF group (mean: 6.80±2.044) (p=0.003). Radiographic examination revealed Grade C fusion in two levels and Grade A fusion in 18 levels in the SF group. In the SFS group, Grade C fusion was detected in one level and Grade A fusions in 19. Conclusion: Our results suggest that simvastatin can promote spinal fusion and can be used as an adjunct to spinal fusion procedures in an elderly population with high cholesterol levels. © 2011 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.