The Role of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Comprehensive Overview
Anabolic androgenic steroids play a significant role in orthopaedic surgery by promoting tissue healing and reducing inflammation
AASs can augment biological healing after muscle injury, fracture repair, or rotator cuff repair and have the potential to improve postoperative recovery after ACL reconstruction or total joint arthroplasty.
Despite the well-documented effects of testosterone and its synthetic derivatives—collectively termed anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) —on the musculoskeletal system, the therapeutic use of these agents has received limited investigation within the field of orthopaedic surgery. AASs are designed to maximize anabolic activity and minimize androgenic effects.
This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of AAS applications in orthopaedic surgery, with an emphasis on preclinical data, clinical studies, and future directions.
The article concludes AASs show great promise as potential therapeutic tool in a variety of clinical scenarios relevant to orthopaedic surgeons.