The purpose of this study was to determine whether gentamicin or vancomycin impair experimental fracture healing in rats. Forty-one male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, receiving either 1.5 mg/kg of gentamicin intramuscularly twice daily for 3 weeks (n = 15), 25 mg/kg of vancomycin intraperitoneally twice daily for 3 weeks (n = 14), or no treatment (n = 12), starting 7 days after production of closed, nondisplaced, bilateral femoral fractures. The mean 30 minute serum concentrations of gentamicin and vancomycin were 4.5 microg/mL and 35.1 microg/mL, respectively. Biomechanical and radiographic studies were used to evaluate fracture healing. Torsional strength testing of fracture callus exposed to gentamicin and vancomycin was similar (437 and 424 N-mm, respectively) to controls (334 N-mm). Radiographs showed similar healing in control animals (Goldberg score, 2.3) compared with rats treated with gentamicin and vancomycin (Goldberg score, 2.6 in both groups). Results of this study do not show impaired healing of experimental fractures after exposure to gentamicin or vancomycin (such as has been reported after exposure to quinolones).