[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 2647-2653, June 1, 2012]

Use of BMPs and bisphosphonates to improve bone fracture healing

Nicole Y.C Yu1,3, Aaron Schindeler1,2, Magnus Tagil4, Andrew J. Ruys3, David G. Little1,2

1Department of Orthopaedic Research and Biotechnology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia, 2Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, A27 University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, 3School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, J07 University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, 4Department of Orthopedics, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Bisphosphonates and bone repair
4. Local BMP and systemic bisphosphonate treatment
5. Local BMP and bisphosphonate co-treatment
6. Conclusions

1. ABSTRACT

In orthopaedics, focus is often placed on increasing bone formation by an anabolic drug like the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP). However, premature or excessive bone resorption, due to stress-shielding, instability or infection/inflammation can lead to poor, delayed, or absent bone union. Anti-catabolic drugs such as bisphosphonates have therefore been explored to improve bone repair. This short review discusses the current literature underlying the anabolic-catabolic paradigm for bone repair with a focus on BMP and bisphosphonate combination approaches.