Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-15-2011
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
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.
DOI
10.3944/AOTT.2011.2526
First Page
270
Last Page
275
Publication Title
Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica
Recommended Citation
Bostan, Bora; Güneş, Taner; Aşçi, Murat; Şen, Cengiz; Keleştemur, Mehmet Halidun; Erdem, Mehmet; Köseoǧlu, Reşit Doǧan; and Erkorkmaz, Ünal, "Simvastatin improves spinal fusion in rats" (2011). Faculty Publications - Mechanical Engineering. 107.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/faculty_pub_mech/107
Comments
At the time of publication, Mehmet Halidun Kelestemur was affiliated with Melikşah Üniversitesi.
Original article publilshed in Turkish.
This is an open access article.
Original Citation:
Bostan, B., Gunes, T., Asi, M., Sen, C. Kelestemur, M.H., Erdem, M., Koseoglu, R. D., & Erkorkmaz, U. (2011). Simvastatin improves spinal fusion in rats. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica 45(4): 270-275. doi: 10.3944/AOTT.2011.2526.