Radiological, histopathological and biomechanical research of effect of high dose atorvastatin on fracture healing (An experimental study with rats)

Skeletal system is essential structure designed for motion. (Life is movement and movement is life). If we apply force to the bone more than it can afford fracture occurs. Almost every day another innovation is adding to the factors having positive effect on bone making. Fracture improving potential of some statins have been shown in the literature. Statins inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaril coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) which is the first step controlling enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis. They are used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.In this study our aim was to investigate the rolle of high dose atorvastatin in fracture healing. Total number of 50 rats were used. Tibia fracture model was performed to all. The rats were randomly separated equaly to two groups and each group was divided randomly to three subgroups. Atorvastatin was given by gavage to the one group and no drug was given to the control group. After harvesting the rats at certain dates (8th, 14th, 28th days) we investigated the tibias we had performed fracture model radiologically, histopathologically and biomechanically.At 8th and 28th day there was a significant statistical difference between two groups radiologically. The ?p? values of less than 0.05 (p<0.05); p<0.0383; p<0.0314 correspondently. There have been no significant differencess statistically in histopathologic and biomechanical studies. p results (p>0.005) were found for both.In this study the effect of atorvastatin on fracture healing could not been shown histopatologically and biomechanically, but radiological difference was found to be significant between two groups under our investigation.Key Words: Atorvastatin, Fracture healing, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaril-Coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA).