Conclusion
In light of these findings, it could be concluded that vitamin K2 has a significant positive effect on fracture healing.
Methods
Twenty-four 6-week-old male Wistar albino rats that had open tibia fractures induced were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups of 12, a group that had vitamin K2 administered over 30 consecutive days and a control group. After 30 days, the rats were sacrificed, and from each group, 6 tibiae were selected for biomechanical testing to examine the mechanical strength of the callus tissue using the Instron 3-point bending test and 6 tibiae were selected for histological analysis to examine the density and organization of callus tissue using Allen's grading system and Huo et al's grading system. Furthermore, weekly x-rays were taken to evaluate bone union described by Lane and Sandhu, and osteocalcin, procollagen I N-terminal propeptide, and procollagen I C-terminal propeptide were examined in blood samples taken by intracardiac puncture during sacrification.
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin K2 on fracture healing.
Results
Breaking force (P = .047), breaking time (P = .019), stiffness (P = .039), fracture strength (P = .041), and Young's modulus (P = .032) showed a statistically significant increase in the K2 group. Procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (P = .024), procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (.047), and osteocalcin (.048) levels were significantly higher in the K2 group compared to the control group. Furthermore, 3rd-week x-rays showed higher bone union scores according to the Lane and Sandhu method in the K2 group (P = .014). However, the histological grading systems of Allen and Huo et al did not show statistically significant differences between groups (P = .086, P = .07, respectively).