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COX-2 Inhibitors Significantly Delay Rotator Cuff Tendon Healing
Full Title
Do Different Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors Impair Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rabbit Model?
Summary
This controlled study evaluated the effects of three common anti-inflammatory drugs on rotator cuff healing in 96 rabbits. After rotator cuff repair surgery, animals were divided into four groups: ibuprofen, celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor), flurbiprofen, and a control group receiving no medication. After 7 days of treatment, the celecoxib group showed significantly lower failure loads and reduced type I collagen at all time points (3, 6, and 12 weeks) compared to controls. For example, at 3 weeks, collagen was 11.5% in the celecoxib group versus 27.6% in controls. The findings confirm that selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly impair rotator cuff tendon healing, particularly in the early stages of recovery.