Objective: The main purpose of the present study was to assess the radiographic, histological, and mechanical effects of gabapentin on fracture healing in a rat model of femur fracture. Materials and methods: A standard transverse fracture of the mid-diaphysis was created. A total of 60 female Wistar-Albino rats with the mean age of 13.5 ± 1.2 weeks were used for this experimental trial. The rats were randomized into four groups with 15 animals included in each group. Group A and B were the control groups whereas C and D were the treatment groups. Drugs were delivered by oral gavage twice a day with the daily dosage calculated according to body surface area conversion to the human equivalent dosing regimen of 1200 mg/day. Radiographic, histological, and biomechanical evaluation was performed. Results: We could not detect any statistically significant difference between the control and gabapentin treatment groups according to the comparative assessment of radiographic scores on the 15th and 30th days. Although no significant differences were found between the groups on the 15th day, histological scores were better in the control group on the 30th day. According to the results of biomechanical testing, the fractured femurs resected from the control group exhibited significantly more strength on the 30th day. Conclusions: According to the data we acquired during the present study, administration of gabapentin negatively affects the fracture healing process especially in the aspects of histological progression as well as the biomechanical strength of the callus in a rat model.

Introduction: Migration of a retained bullet in the body is rare. Some studies have reported regarding embolism induced by intravascular bullet migration. Here we present a case of lead bullet migration through the external surface of the right femoral vein. Case Report: A 31-year-old male was referred to our department for clinical forensic medical evaluation. He was assaulted while working at his office and thus was subsequently taken to the emergency department. Physical examination revealed that the bullet first entered from the left thigh and passed through the medial part of the right thigh with its own kinetic energy, and after 7 h, it passively moved up to the common iliac vein via the femoral space of the right femoral vein. Conclusion: This case report is important as it demonstrated that the lead bullet retained in the body may have passively migrated toward proximal and abdomen via the external surface of the vein between the fascia and intermuscular structures.

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There was no agreement on intervertebral disc changes by age in human lumbar spine in the previous studies. The present study aimed the re-examination of the possible changes in intervertebral lumbar discs by age in healthy subjects. Normal lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained from 171 individuals (84 men, 87 women; 12-80 years old). The anterior and posterior heights and the depths of the intervertebral discs at each level of the lumbar spine were measured. The gender and age-related changes were not significant for heights. The depths of the intervertebral discs changed with age significantly in both sexes. The average disc height and shape index increased with age significantly in some disks individually. The disk depths showed only gender difference. The present study did not find clear increases in all dimensions and the shape of the discs of both sexes with age and differed from the previous studies. Our findings needed to be confirmed by the further MRI studies.

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