DOES TAURINE IMPROVE FRACTURE HEALING? AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the influence of taurine, a non-structural amino acid with antioxidant effects, on fracture healing. Materials and Methods: Open tibial osteotomy was performed on nine New Zealand rabbits in the control group and seven in the taurine group. Radiologic fracture healing was assesed using the Goldberg score on x-rays and computed tomography (CT) sections on the 21st day. Healing was graded histologically using the Huo score. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured, at days zero, seven, 14 and 21. Results: Upon completion of the study, in the taurine group, the median stage of healing was recorded as "radiologic union", whereas it was "probable union" in the control group with respect to x-ray and CT sections. In the taurine group, callus was mainly composed of osteoid tissue (median Huo score 8); in the control group the predominant tissue was chondroid (median Huo score 6). Changes in MDA levels revealed that oxidative stress was greatest in the inflammatory phase. In both groups, the ALP levels first decreased, and then increased ,with new bone formation on the 21st day. Conclusion: Taurine improved early bone healing in an experimental animal osteotomy model. This influence might be related to its antioxidant properties.