The effect of hypertonic alkaline nasal irrigation on nasal wound healing in an experimental animal model

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of a hypertonic alkaline nasal irrigation (HANI) solution on nasal healing in an animal model of nasal septal perforation (NSP). Materials and Methods: In the experimental animal study, 22 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in to two groups: the HANI (study) group and the saline (control) group. An NSP about 2 mm in size was formed in each rat. In the study group, 0.1 mL of HANI was intranasally administered each day for 14 days, whereas the control group daily received 0.1 mL of saline for the same period. The animals were sacrificed on Day 14, and the subjects’ nasal septums were excised for histopathology. The amount of regeneration and degeneration of epithelial tissue, inflammatory cell count, fibroblast count, amount of collagen, new vessel formation, amount of granulation, giant cell count, eosinophil count, and the degeneration and regeneration of cartilage tissue were examined. The macroscopic recovery rates of NPSs and microscopic parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: The acute inflammatory cell density was significantly lower in the study group (p=0.033). The epithelial and cartilage regenerations, fibroblast number, vascularization, amount of granulation, and collagen density were higher in the study group. In addition, the epithelial and cartilage degenerations were lower in the study group. However, no significant difference was detected in the evaluation of the remaining parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: Hypertonic alkaline nasal irrigation may not adversely affect nasal wound healing and may reduce acute inflammation in nasal septal wound healing in an NSP animal model.