Deer antlers could mend broken bones

Deer antlers could repair broken human bones in a fraction of the time, scientists have suggested.

Male deer regrow a new, larger pair of antlers every spring, with the developing bone covered in soft velvet packed with blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients.

Now researchers from Washington University in the US and Ningbo University in China have identified hundreds of chemicals in antlers that could accelerate bone healing.

In experiments, scientists injected deer antler polypeptides into mice with broken limbs. The treatment “substantially accelerated mouse fractures by enhancing callus formation”, they found.

Callus formation is the process in which new cartilage and bone form around a fracture before the damaged bone remodels.

The mice's bones had joined within a week, compared with the usual two to three weeks. After 21 days, fractures in treated animals had completely healed, while untreated breaks would typically take around five weeks.

The researchers identified more than 300 polypeptides in deer antlers, suggesting several compounds could contribute to the remarkable healing effect.

The findings could eventually lead to treatments for people whose fractures fail to heal properly. Between five and 10 per cent of human fractures are estimated to suffer delayed healing, leaving patients facing prolonged rehabilitation and pain.

Writing in the Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, the scientists said: “Despite of various treatments including surgery, physiotherapy and biologics, approximately five to 10 per cent of fractures still progress to delayed healing.

“Fracture patients are subjected to prolonged rehabilitation, substantial physical pain and psychological distress, imposing significant burdens on the healthcare system.

“Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies for enhancing fracture healing.”

The team added: “Deer antlers are the only mammalian organ capable of complete regeneration, enabling them to form a new functional antler through production of bone, cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and skin within a few months.”

However, the research is still at an early stage and the findings in mice do not mean a deer-based treatment is ready for human patients.

Previous research has also suggested deer and reindeer velvet could help repair serious skin injuries and burns, while other compounds found in antlers may have potential for treating arthritis.