Evaluation of simvastatin in the process of fracture healing in tibiae of rats

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of simvastatin in the process of fracture healing in rat tibia. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were subjected to diaphyseal fracture of the leg bones and divided in the statin group (GE) and control group (GC), being subdivided into three subgroups according to days post-fracture (7th, 14th and 28th day) to assess bone healing. In GE was administered by gavage a solution of simvastatin to the sacrifice. In the control group was administered saline by the same route of SG. Immobilization was not used. After the sacrifice was made to limb amputation in the distal femur and conducted the clinical, radiological and histological analysis. Clinical evaluation was made as to the mobility of the fracture. Then the samples were radiographed and evaluated for callus diameter. Histological examination was performed with cuts of 5 micrometers and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome and Alcian blue pH 2.5. The level of significance to exclude the null hypothesis was 5%. RESULTS: All GE animals showed greater stability of the fracture and higher callus area. There were no significant changes in the histological study. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin accelerates the consolidation process by increasing the callus, but does not alter the histology of the newly formed bone.