Abstract
Introduction: Hysterectomy is the most common gynecological operation performed after cesarean operation. This animal study investigates the role of hysterectomy on the development of postmenopausal osteoarthritis through surgical approaches.
Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised 40 mature female Albino rats that were randomly separated into 4 surgical groups of 10 as control, oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and ovariohysterectomy. Serial sections were taken for histological examination. The average scores of each observer were calculated and used in analyses.
Results: When the osteoarthritis scores were compared according to the groups, the highest score was found in
the ovariohysterectomy group, followed by oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and control groups, respectively. The difference between the groups in respect of osteoarthritis was found to be significant (p<0.0001). When the osteoarthritis scores of the groups were compared in pairs, significant differences were determined between the hysterectomy and the oophorectomy (p<0.05), between the hysterectomy and the ovariohysterectomy (p<0.01), and between the hysterectomy, the oophorectomy, and the ovariohysterectomy and the control groups (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: A higher osteoarthritis score in the ovariohysterectomy compared to the oophorectomy concluded that hysterectomy caused the development of osteoarthritis in both the groups in which the ovaries were protected and not protected.

Key words: Hysterectomy, Postmenopausal Osteoarthritis, Oophorectomy, Oophorectomy