Does Celecoxib Have an Adverse Effect on Bone Remodeling and In growth in Humans?

Although celecoxib may provide perioperative pain relief, the effect of the short-term use of celecoxib on bone ingrowth into porous-coated devices has not been previously studied in humans.

In this study, bone ingrowth into titanium and tantalum plugs was measured in nine patients who underwent staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and were taking celecoxib as part of a perioperative pain relief protocol. Patients were given tetracycline to measure the mineral apposition rate before and after celecoxib administration. Time zero plugs were implanted and retrieved during the first TKA, and 12 weeks later the contralateral implanted plugs were retrieved at the second TKA. Researchers found that the mineral apposition rate was similar for the titanium (0.97 mum per day) and the tantalum (1.15 mum per day) plugs at 12 weeks as was bone ingrowth (886 mum versus 632 mum, respectively). Researchers concluded that celecoxib does not seem to inhibit bone ingrowth or bone formation.(Source: Department of Orthopaedics: University of Utah School of Medicine: PMID: 17016230 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]: Octber 2006.)