['To analyse the effects of short-term treatment with etidronate on the glucocorticoid-induced retardation of bone growth and deterioration of bone structure in the prepubertal rat mandible.', 'Fifty 5-week-old male rats were divided into five groups. Etidronate or vehicle treatment (5 mg/kg/day, daily, subcutaneous injection) was initiated after glucocorticoid administration (30 mg/kg/day, on alternate days, orally) for 6 weeks and was continued for 3 weeks. Then, bone growth was measured using lateral cephalometric analysis. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used to determine bone density, bone cross-sectional area and bone strength.', 'Glucocorticoid-treated rats had significantly lower body weight, mandibular length, cortical bone density, bone strength and cross-sectional area in trabecular and cortical bone, but had significantly higher trabecular bone density than untreated rats. No significant difference in mandibular height was observed between the glucocorticoid-treated group and the untreated control group. Etidronate treatment improved the glucocorticoid-induced decrease in bone strength and increased density in trabecular and cortical bone above the untreated control level, but had no significant effects on the reduction in mandibular length.'] Does short-term etidronate treatment prevent glucocorticoid-induced bone debility of the mandible in growing rats?