Abstract

Objectives: Natural honey which is accepted as sterile, has been used in burns and decubitis wounds since olden days. We aimed to evaluate the effects of natural honey on graft and flap healing in order to contribute this to hypospadias surgery.

Material and Methods: Fourteen Wistar Albino rats with a mean weight of 300±50 gr were divided into two equal groups and two approximately 1 cm diameter full thickness grafts were prepared from the abdominal skin of each rat. The second graft was sutured with 5-0 prolen to the first donor area, while the second donor area was closed by a flap and Z-plasty seven of the rats were patched with honey and the other group with classic dressing technique during the healing period. Epithelisation, infection and scar formation were evaluated during the healing period. Full thickness biopsies were performed from the site of the flap and graft to evaluate acute and chronic inflammation, fibrosis and degree of vascular proliferation.

Results: The wound healing period was 10±2 days in the honey dressing group and no infection or necrosis in the site of graft and flab was observed. This period was 12±1.8 days in the classic dressing group and one case developed graft necrosis and one an infected sinus under the skin. Biopsy specimens of the 15th day revealed no difference between the two groups except for one epidermal ulceration in the honey dressing group.

Conclusion: There was no microscopic difference between the honey and classic methods on early wound healing.