Effects of dabigatran etexilate on fracture healing in rats

Dabigatran etexilate, prodrug of dabigatran, is a new developed anticoagulant which inhibits reversibly thrombin with high affinity and specifity. Despite currently used anticoagulant agents, no monitoring requirement and administration in a fixed dose without drug-drug or food-drug interactions are its main advantages. With these advantages and low side effects its usage has been widened worlwide.In this experimental study we perform a rat tibia fracture model and evaluate the effect of dabigatran etexilate on fracture healing by both radiological and histological. 36 female Spraque Dawley, mean 250 gr weighted female rats was used. Animals divided to 6 groups, each consisting 6 rats then performed right tibial fracture and internal fixation. Oral dabigatran etexilate for rats was a suspention in %0,5 hydroxyethylcellulose and administered to rats via oral gavage. 1st and 2nd groups had 10 mg/kg daily dose respectively for 2 and 4 weeks. As the same way prepared solution 3rd and 4th groups had 50 mg/kg daily dose for 2 and 4 weeks. 5th and 6th groups assigned as sham groups; only hydroxyethylcellulose solution was administered for 2 and 4 weeks. 1st, 3th and 5th groups sacrificied at 2 weeks; 2nd, 4th and 6th groups sacrificied at 4 weeks. Then their right tibias evaluated radiologically and histologically and the results compared.After radiologic and histological evaluation there was no significant difference between drug groups and sham groups at 14 and 28 days and there was no impairment in fracture healing.As a result, we established dabigatran etexilate has no effect on fracture healing in rats according to radiological and histological evaluations.