The Therapeutic Effects of Combination Therapy with Curcumin and Alendronate on Spine Fusion Surgery in the Ovariectomized Rats.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combination therapy with curcumin and alendronate on spine fusion surgery in ovariectomized rats.

METHODS

Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). Eight weeks after surgery, animals underwent intertransverse spine fusion at L4-5. The rats were randomly distributed amongst 4 groups; untreated OVX group, curcumin administered group, alendronate administered group, and the combination therapy group. At 8 weeks after fusion surgery, the animals were sacrificed and the fusion mass was assessed by manual palpation, radiographic scan, and micro-computed tomographic scan. In addition, mechanical strength was determined by a 3-point bending test.

RESULTS

Based on the results of manual palpation testing and 3-dimensional micro-computed tomography scanning, solid bone fusion rate was 50% (4 of 8) in the OVX group, 75% (6 of 8) in the alendronate-only and curcumin-only group, and 87.5% (7 of 8) in the combination therapy group, respectively. The combination therapy group had a higher fusion rate compared with the other treatment groups, though not statistically significantly (p>0.05). And the combination therapy group had a significant increase in fusion volume at 8 weeks after spine fusion surgery compared with curcumin-only group (p=0.039). The 3-point bending test showed that combination therapy group had a significantly greater maximal load value compared to that of curcumin-only group (p=0.024).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that additional treatment of curcumin and alendronate after spine fusion surgery in rat can promote higher fusion volume, and improve bone mechanical strength.