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AI InsightHowever, further studies are required to determine their clinical relevance.
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Abstract
Aims: This experimental study aimed to evaluate the effects of etodolac and thiocolchicoside, administered alone or in combination, on cutaneous wound healing in a rat full-thickness excisional wound model using macroscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical parameters. Methods: This controlled experimental study was conducted using a full-thickness excisional wound model in 24 male Wistar albino rats. Animals were randomized into four groups (n=6 each): etodolac, thiocolchicoside, combination (etodolac+thiocolchicoside), and control. A standardized 2-cm dorsal skin wound was created under general anesthesia. Treatments were administered orally for 14 days. Wound areas were measured on postoperative days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14. Histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis of CD31 and TGF-β1 were performed on day 14. Results: Baseline wound areas were comparable among groups (p=0.912). Significant intergroup differences in wound area reduction were observed on day 3 (p=0.041) and became more pronounced on days 7, 10, and 14 (all p<0.001). On day 14, the combination group demonstrated the smallest wound area (18.7±6.1 mm²) compared with etodolac (42.8±9.6 mm²), thiocolchicoside (38.4±8.9 mm²), and control groups (76.3±14.2 mm²). Histopathological analysis demonstrated significant differences in lymphocyte density (p=0.002), fibroblast density (p<0.001), scar thickness (p<0.001), vascularity (p<0.001), and multinucleated giant cell presence (p=0.038). TGF-β1 expression scores also differed significantly between groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Etodolac and thiocolchicoside, administered alone or in combination, were associated with significant alterations in macroscopic and histopathological wound healing parameters in a rat model. These findings suggest that these agents may modulate wound healing processes rather than definitively improve healing outcomes. However, further studies are required to determine their clinical relevance.