Colchicine inhibits fracture union and reduces bone strength - in vivo study

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated that Colchicine (CO) prevents heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip replacement in patients suffering from familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Other investigators have proved that CO is an in vitro inhibitor of proliferation of osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells, and is a non-selective mitosis inhibitor and selective inhibitor of mineralization. Methods: A double blind prospective study comprised four groups of adult rats. The left posterior tibia in each rat was fractured except in one of the control groups. The study groups were treated with CO 1 mg/kg/day 1 week before, or on the fracture day. The control groups did not receive CO treatment. Six weeks after fracture induction the groups were compared radiographically mechanically and histologically. Results: Prolonged CO treatment had a significant negative influence on fracture healing according to radiological, clinical, mechanical (p < 0.02), and pathological parameters (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate that prolonged CO treatment reduced bone healing. (c) 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.