DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.049

Pages: 1292-1296

Anticoagulants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are frequently used concomitantly in the management of bone fractures. The present study was thus designed to evaluate the effect of combine use of these drugs on the histology and histomorphometry of bone tissues in experimental rat model of bone fractures. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B and C) of 12 animals and submitted to diaphyseal fracture of right tibia after being anesthetized with chloroform via inhalation under aseptic conditions. Following fracture, animals in group B were administered with diclofenac and heparin, while group C were administered with diclofenac and warfarin. Group A animals served as control. Four animals were selected from each group for radiographic, histologic and histomorphometric analysis on days 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment. Radiographic assessment showed fracture lines are no longer visible at day 21 but deposit of callus is reduced in groups B and C. Histological analysis revealed intact osteocytes within lacunae, empty lacunae, and resorption cavities in all groups and presence of more immature collagen fibres in groups B and C all through the 21 days of treatment when compared to the control. Histomorphometric evaluation showed significantly increased (p<0.05) osteocytes count in groups B and C compared to control group, at day 7, 14 and 21. However, group C showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in cortical width compared to control and group B, at day 21.The study concludes that the combined use of diclofenac and anticoagulants could affect the quality of fracture healing.