Biomechanical, histological, and radiological effects of different phosphodiesterase inhibitors on femoral fracture healing in rats

Purpose:To investigate the biomechanical, histological, and radiological effects of sildenafil and pentoxifylline on femoral fracture healing in rats.Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups equally according to the pharmacological agents to be investigated. Femoral shaft fractures were formed in the left side. Group 1 (control group), group 2, and group 3 were administered with saline, sildenafil, and pentoxifylline during the fracture healing process, respectively. Eight rats from each group were euthanized on days 15 and 30. X-ray images of the rats were taken after euthanasia for radiographical examination. Femur samples were subjected to histopathological and biomechanical (three-point bending) examinations.Results:Radiologically, no difference between the Goldberg scores of the groups was found for day 15 (p > 0.05), while higher Goldberg scores were obtained from group 2 than that of group 1 (p > 0.05) and group 3 (p < 0.05) for day 30. In the biomechanical analysis, h...