Effect of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Bone Healing and Osseointegration: the Need for large Scale Human Clinical Trials

Abstract

This article revisits the topic whether the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affect bone healing and
osseointegration. An understanding on this topic is crucial for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions to ensure patient safety and long-term success of implants. Based on authors’ systematic search, a limited number of articles were found to merit another systematic review. The understanding on the effects of NSAIDs on bone, specifically in human subjects, and the underlying biochemical mechanism, remain limited, owing to design variations in limited published studies. Some studies may suggest NSAIDs have no adverse, if not protective effects. One can suggest that a combination of certain NSAID type, dosage, administration timing and duration may adversely affect bone. Authors would like to raise awareness and highlight the need of collective efforts and further studies with standardised quantitative measurements to help our understanding of the effects of this commonly used line of treatment.