Drugs for bone healing.

INTRODUCTION The biological process of fracture healing is complex with influences that are both patient-dependent and related to the trauma experienced and stability of the fracture. Fracture healing complications negatively affect the patient's quality of life, even more when fractures occur in the elderly osteoporotic patients. AREAS COVERED In the polytherapy for bone regeneration, a high success rate was obtained with the use of growth factors, osteogenic cells, and osteoconductive factors. There have been high expectations that treatment with drugs active on bone remodeling would be efficient for acceleration of fracture healing. A literature search was undertaken using wording like "drug or pharmacology of fracture healing." This report will review the systemic pharmacological agents for which clinical trials documenting their efficacy on bone healing have been carried out or are underway. EXPERT OPINION At present the use of systemic pharmacological agents to enhance fracture healing in the clinical setting is still controversial. However, future clinical trials will offer the possibility to obtain data that will make possible the registration of a drug as a "healer."