Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging is a useful tool to monitor fracture
healing in osteoporosis model. It creates a 3-D image of the fracture callus which can
be analysed to assess bone parameters quantitatively. In this study, micro-CT was
used to assess the fracture healing of orchidectomised rats, an androgen-deficient
osteoporosis model. The effects of Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant with proandrogenic
effects, on fracture healing were assessed. The rats were grouped into
orchidectomised-control (ORX), sham-operated (SHAM), orchidectomised and
injected with testosterone intramuscularly once weekly (TEN) and orchidectomised
and daily oral gavage of Eurycoma longifolia (EL). Treatment duration was six
weeks following bone fracture. Fracture was induced in the right tibia of all the
rats. A total of 100 axial slices above and below fracture line were scanned with
a micro-CT. The micro-CT analysis was able to detect significant difference in the
fracture healing rate of ORX and TEN groups. The bridging cortices and fraction
of mineralized tissue of the bridging cortices of the callous of ORX group was
significantly lower than TEN group. No significant micro-CT changes were seen
in the fracture healing of the EL group. The effect of EL on fracture healing was not
demonstrable in orchidectomised rat model.