Narcotics may interfere with bone healing

Postoperative Opioid Administration Inhibits Bone Healing in an Animal Model

The authors observe that opiod medications are the mainstay of orthopaedic pain control. They used a rat fracture model to evaluate the effects of opioid administration on bone union in an operatively stabilized fracture. After a 0.4-mm femoral osteotomy gap was created, rats were randomized to control versus morphine-treated study groups.


There was a statistically significant (p = 0.048) reduction in callus strength in morphine-treated animals 8 weeks postoperatively compared with controls. Radiographic and histological analysis showed delayed callus maturation and lack of remodeling in the morphine group compared with control animals at 8 weeks.

The authors concluded that administration of an opioid pain medication leads to weaker callus and impedes callus maturation compared with controls.



Comment: In fracture cases as well as in shoulder arthroplasty, bone healing and remodeling are important. The authors have given us yet another reason to consider minimizing our use of narcotics.


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