The role of chondroitin sulfate to bone healing indicators and compressive strength

The function of bone is to protect the vital organs of the body. Mechanical strength, especially compressive strength, plays an important role in fulfilling its function. Fracture healing depends on several substances, such as collagen, glucosaminoglycane and proteoglycan. Chondroitin sulfate as part of proteoglycane is an important component in the formation of callus in fracture healing. The aim of this study is to prove chondroitin sulfate role in supporting fracture healing.

The in vivo experiment has been performed to Rattus novergicus which met the inclusion criteria (age 3 months, 200-300 g weight), 18 males of R. norvegicus, Wistar strain, were divided into three equal groups of six rats each. After being anesthetized, fracturation was performed in a sterile manner to get simple fracture. The area of dissection is in half length of tibial bone and the fracture incision is about 1 cm. Then it followed by immobilization of the lower leg bone on one side with a cast. The first group was given chondroitin sulfate 7 mg in 2 mL distilled water/200 g weight for 2 weeks. The second group was given chondroitin sulfate 7 mg in 2 mL distilled water/200 g weight for 4 weeks. The third group was given distilled water. This research was focused on treatment of cartilage. The callus position is in half length of tibial bone.

There were significant differences in the increase of TGF-β, the number of osteoblasts and callus compressive strength in the groups with chondroitin sulfate treatment for 2 and 4 weeks, compared to the control group (p<0.01).

Administering chondroitin sulfate in a dose of 7 mg in 2 mL distilled water for 2 and 4 weeks may increase production of TGF-β, the osteoblast numbers and the callus compressive strength in fracture healing.