Indomethacin and bone remodeling. Effect on cortical bone after osteotomy in rabbits.

Remodeling in cortical bone close to a plated tibial midshaft osteotomy was histomorphometrically evaluated in 32 rabbits. The animals were divided into two groups, one being treated with indomethacin (10 mg/kg per day) and the other receiving placebo. In the placebo-treated group, the remodeling activity was higher in the osteotomized leg compared with the intact leg. Two and 6 weeks after osteotomy, the number of resorptive and formative foci was reduced in the indomethacin-treated group compared with the placebo group. Porosity did not differ between the groups after 2 weeks; but after 6 weeks, it was reduced in the indomethacin-treated animals. Throughout the study, the bone formation rate did not differ between the two groups. This study demonstrates that indomethacin inhibits the remodeling of traumatized bone.