Evaluation of the Effect of Gabapentin on Tendon Healing in an Experimental Rat Model

BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the effect of gabapentin used in postoperative pain prophylaxis on tendon healing. MATERIAL and METHODS A total of 32 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Groups A and C were administered gabapentin by oral gavage, while Groups B and D were defined as the control groups. In all the rats, a transverse cut was made on the left Achilles tendon, approximately 0.5 cm proximal to the attachment point of the bone, then it was sutured using the Kessler method. Rats in Groups A and B were sacrificed on day 15 and those in Groups C and D on day 45. Differences between the groups were evaluated biomechanically using the tensile test, and immunohistochemically by examinations of collagen type 1 (COL1A), Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), and Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). RESULTS In the biomechanical evaluations, no significant difference was found between the study and control groups on days 15 and 45 in terms of the tensile test results (day 15, p=0.908; day 45, p=0.798). In the semi-quantitative comparisons of positive cell involvement in the immunohistochemical data evaluations, no statistically significant difference was also found. [TGF-beta 1, p(15)=0.328, p(45)=0.195; PCNA p(15)=0.645]. PCNA-positive cells were seen at a high rate in the first 15 days in both groups and the involvement of these cells was found to be similar on day 45. CONCLUSION In the immunohistochemical and biomechanical evaluations, gabapentin was not found to have any negative effect on tendon healing. It can be concluded that gabapentin can be used in cases with appropriate indications after tendon surgery. Nevertheless, there is a need for further studies in this area to investigate the mechanism of gabapentin's effect on the tendon.