A new study “suggest CBD and CBG as therapeutic agents that can replace NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in managing post-fracture pain”, and “at the same time, promote bone healing.”
A fractured bone.
Published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, the study was conducted by researchers at the The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Pennsylvania State University. The study was published online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine.
“Bone fractures are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries, and pain management is an essential part of fracture treatment”, notes the study. “Fractures heal through an early inflammatory phase, followed by repair and remodelling. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not recommended for fracture pain control as they potently inhibit the inflammatory phase and, thus, impair the healing.”
The study notes that “Opioids do not provide a better alternative for several reasons, including abuse potential. Accordingly, there is an unmet clinical need for analgesics that effectively ameliorate post-fracture pain without impeding the healing.”
For the study researchers “investigated the analgesic efficacy of two non-psychotropic cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), in a mouse model for tibial fracture.”
Mice with fractured tibiae exhibited increased sensitivity to mechanical, cold, and hot stimuli. “Both CBD and CBG normalized pain sensitivity to all tested stimuli, and their analgesic effects were comparable to those of the NSAIDs.”
The study states that “Interestingly, CBD and CBG promoted bone healing via multiple mechanisms during the early and late phases. During the early inflammatory phase, both cannabinoids increased the abundance of periosteal bone progenitors in the healing hematoma and promoted the osteogenic commitment of these progenitors.”
During the later phases of healing, “CBD and CBG accelerated the fibrocartilaginous callus mineralization and enhanced the viability and proliferation of bone and bone-marrow cells. These effects culminated in higher bone volume fraction, higher bone mineral density, and improved mechanical quality of the newly formed bone.”
Researchers conclude that “Together, our data suggest CBD and CBG as therapeutic agents that can replace NSAIDs in managing post-fracture pain as both cannabinoids exert potent analgesic effects and, at the same time, promote bone healing.”
