The Comparison of the Applicability of Low-Frequency Laser, β-Tricalcium Phosphate, Platelet-Rich Fibrin, and Bone Marrow in the Treatment of Tibial Fractures in Rabbits

Abstract

Purpose: To compare and evaluate the radiologic, clinical, and histopathologic results of the treatment methods applied in diaphyseal tibial fractures. Methods: A complete tibial fracture was created in the tibial diaphysis in each rabbit. Experimentally generated fracture fragments were fixed by intramedullary pinning. In the control group (group I), the bone fracture area was left to heal without any treatment technique. Group II received low-energy laser therapy once daily to the surgical side for 30 days; group III, autologous bone marrow aspirated from the left proximal tibia; group IV, a combination of bone marrow obtained by aspiration and synthetic beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP); and in group V, a platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane obtained from the central auricular artery was applied to the fracture side. Results: In the X-ray analysis, it was determined that group IV had the fastest score increase, while group I had the lowest scores. In group IV, no lameness that persisted until the end of the study was observed in any rabbit. When the histopathological scores of the different groups were examined, it was seen that the lowest score belonged to group I, and the highest score was in group IV. Conclusion: The highest rate of new bone formation and bone regeneration was achieved when the combination of aspirated bone marrow and beta-TCP granules was applied. The experimental group with PRF membrane application exhibited the least osteogenic characteristics among all experimental groups.