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Effects of Boric Acid on Fracture Healing: An Experimental Study

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Abstract

Boric acid (BA) has positive effects on bone tissue. In this study, the effects of BA on fracture healing were evaluated in an animal model. Standard closed femoral shaft fractures were created in 40 male Sprague–Dawley rats under general anesthesia. The rats were allocated into five groups (n = 8 each): group 1, control with no BA; groups 2 and 3, oral BA at doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg/day, respectively; group 4, local BA (8 mg/kg); and group 5, both oral and local BA (8 mg/kg/day orally and 8 mg/kg locally). After closed fracture creation, the fracture line was opened with a mini-incision, and BA was locally administered to the fracture area in groups 4 and 5. In groups 2, 3, and 5, BA was administered by gastric gavage daily until sacrifice. The rats were evaluated by clinical, radiological, and histological examinations. The control group (group 1) significantly differed from the local BA-exposed groups (groups 4 and 5) in the clinical evaluation. Front-rear and lateral radiographs revealed significant differences between the local BA-exposed groups and the control and other groups (p < 0.05). Clinical and radiological evaluations demonstrated adequate agreement between observers. The average histological scores significantly differed across groups (p = 0.007) and were significantly higher in groups 4 and 5 which were the local BA (8 mg/kg) and both oral and local BA (8 mg/kg/day orally and 8 mg/kg locally), respectively, compared to the controls. This study suggests that BA may be useful in fracture healing. Further research is required to demonstrate the most effective local dosage and possible use of BA-coated implants.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Experimental Research Center of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

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The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17000, Çanakkale, Turkey

    Umut Hatay Gölge, Burak Kaymaz, Erkam Kömürcü & Ferdi Göksel

  2. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Rabia Arpaci

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

    Mustafa Güven

  4. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey

    Yunus Güzel

  5. Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

    Sibel Cevizci

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  1. Umut Hatay Gölge
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  2. Burak Kaymaz
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  3. Rabia Arpaci
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Correspondence to Umut Hatay Gölge.

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Gölge, U.H., Kaymaz, B., Arpaci, R. et al. Effects of Boric Acid on Fracture Healing: An Experimental Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 167, 264–271 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0326-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0326-3

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