Effects of Testosterone Plus Finasteride on Bone After Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluated the effects of high-dose testosterone plus finasteride (T+F) on bone mineral density (BMD) in 10 men with impaired gait and low to low-normal testosterone following chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. Conducted at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System, participants received either T+F or a placebo for 6-12 months. Results showed that T+F significantly increased lower-extremity BMD compared to placebo, with notable improvements in the total hip, femoral neck, and distal femur BMD at both 6 and 12 months. These findings suggest that T+F may be beneficial for increasing BMD in this population, warranting further investigation in larger clinical trials.