The effects of dabigatran etexilate on fracture healing in rats: An experimental study

Deep vein thrombosis leading to pulmonary embolism is one of the major complication after fracture. After a fracture occurs, the coagulation cascade activates thrombin, a protease that finally generates clotting. Dabigatran etexilate reduce clot formation by inhibiting thrombin. Dabigatran etexilate is a widely used drug for thromboprophylaxis. There is no study of the effects of dabigatran etexilate on fracture healing in the literature, so we aimed to evaluate the effects of dabigatran etexilate on fracture healing.

Thirty-six female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups, each consisting of 6 rats. In all rats, right tibias were used for the fracture model. An oral regimen of dabigatran etexilate suspension in 0.5% hydroxyethylcellulose was administered to the rats. Although the first and second groups received 10 mg/kg daily doses, the third and fourth groups received 50 mg/kg daily doses. The fifth and sixth groups were assigned as sham groups and only hydroxyethylcellulose solution was administered. The first, third and fifth groups were sacrificed on 14(th) days; whereas the second, fourth and sixth groups were sacrificed on 28(th) days. Results were evaluated radiologically and histologically.

Radiologically and histologically no statistically significant differences were observed on the 14(th) day between the first, third and fifth groups; and on the 28(th) days between the second, fourth and sixth groups.

Radiological and histological evaluations revealed that fracture healing was not affected by dabigatran etexilate. We think that dabigatran etexilate can be used for the prophylaxis of thromboembolism in patients with fractures, but further clinical studies are mandatory.