Objective      To evaluate the effect of local application of simvastatin in a biodegradable coating of osteosynthetic implants on osteoporotic fracture healing in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.       Methods      Thirty female SD rats of 3 months old were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10)

group A

group B and group C. The rats of group B and group C underwent ovariectomy

while those in group A received sham operation. Midshaft femur fracture model was established at 6 weeks after ovariectomy. Intramedullary stabilization was achieved without

coating in group A

with polymer coating in group B

and with polymer plus simvastatin coating in group C. The right femurs were harvested at 6 weeks after fracture operation

and radiographic evaluation

bone mineral density (BMD) measurement

HE staining

and immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and BMP-2 detection were performed.       Results      Radiographic results demonstrated the proportion of complete and incomplete ridging callus in group A and C was markedly higher than that in group B (

P

0.05). The BMD of total femur and BMD of callus in group A and group C were significantly higher than those in group B (

P

0.05). The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the mean absorbance of VEGF and BMP-2 in group A and group C was significantly higher than that in group B (

P

0.05).       Conclusion      Local application of simvastatin as a biodegradable coating of osteosynthetic implants can accelerate the fracture healing process in osteoporotic rats

which may rely on increasing BMD and up-regulating the expression of BMP-2 and VEGF in callus.