OBJECTIVE: This review is aimed to discuss the literature reporting the effects of tocotrienols on osteoclasts, the cells specialized for resorbing bone.
RESULTS: Out of the total 22 studies from the literature search, only 11 of them were identified as relevant, which comprised of eight animal studies, two in vitro studies and only one combination of both. The in vivo studies indicated that tocotrienols improve the bone health and reduce bone loss via inhibition of osteoclast formation and resorption activity, which could be through regulation of RANKL and OPG expression as seen from their levels in the sera. This is well supported by data from the in vitro studies demonstrating the suppression of osteoclast formation and resorption activity following treatment with tocotrienol isomers.
CONCLUSION: Thus, tocotrienols are suggested to be potential antioxidants for prevention and treatment of bone-related diseases characterized by increased bone loss.
METHODS: Patients treated for Blount disease using external fixator from 2002 to 2016 were recruited for the study. We used Ilizarov and Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) external fixator to perform simultaneous correction of all the metaphyseal deformities without elevating the tibia plateau. Surgical outcome was evaluated using mechanical axis deviation (MAD), tibial femoral angle (TFA), and femoral condyle tibial shaft angle (FCTSA).
RESULTS: A total of 22 patients with 32 tibias have been recruited for the study. The mean MAD improved from 95 ± 51.4 mm to 9.0 ± 37.7 mm (medial to midpoint of the knee), mean TFA improved from 31 ± 15° varus to 2 ± 14° valgus, and mean FCTSA improved from 53 ± 14° to 86 ± 14°. Mean duration of frame application is 9.4 months. Two patients developed pathological fractures over the distracted bones, one developed delayed consolidation and other developed overcorrection.
CONCLUSIONS: Correction of Blount disease can be achieved by gradual correction using Ilizarov or TSF external fixator with low risk of soft tissue complication. Longer duration of frame application should be considered to reduce the risk of pathological fracture or subsequent deformation of the corrected bone.