Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2018 Jun;11(2):146-150. 10.21053/ceo.2017.00647.

Effect of Topical Propolis on Wound Healing Process After Tonsillectomy: Randomized Controlled Study

• Moon JH
• Lee MY
• Chung YJ
• Rhee CK
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2412673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2017.00647

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The post-tonsillectomy pain and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage are the two main problems after tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of water soluble ethanol extract propolis on post-tonsillectomy patient.
METHODS
One hundred and thirty patients who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were randomly divided into the control and propolis groups, each including 65 patients. The propolis group was applied with propolis orally immediately after surgery and by gargle. The pain scores were assessed on post-tonsillectomy 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th-10th day using a visual analogue scale score. Postoperative wound healing was evaluated by scoring pinkish membrane of tonsillar fossae on postoperative days 3 and 7-10. The incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding was examined in each group.
RESULTS
Post-tonsillectomy pain was significantly less in propolis group compared to control group on postoperative days 3 and 7-10. Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage was significantly less in the propolis group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The wound healing was significantly better in the propolis group compared to the control group on postoperative day 7-10 (P=0.002).
CONCLUSION
Applying the propolis to post-tonsillectomy wound showed beneficial effect of reducing postoperative pain, preventing hemorrhage, and accelerating of wound healing of tonsillar fossae.

Keyword

Propolis; Tonsillectomy; Pain; Hemorrhage; Wound Healing

MeSH Terms

Ethanol
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Membranes
Pain, Postoperative
Propolis*
Tonsillectomy*
Water
Wound Healing*
Wounds and Injuries*
Ethanol
Propolis
Water

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Flow diagram of propolis application.

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  Fig. 2. The representative images of wound healing process: point 0 (A), point 1 (B), point 2 (C), and point 3 (D).

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  Fig. 3. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score. Pain scores were determined by a VAS on post-tonsillectomy 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th–10th day. The VAS score on postoperative days 3 and 7–10 was significantly different between the two groups (*P<0.05).

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  Fig. 4. Wound healing score. Wound healing scores evaluated by presence of pinkish membrane at tonsillar fossae on postoperative days 3 and 7–10. (A) The patient proportion of high scores (scores 2 and 3) was higher in propolis group compared to control group on postoperative day 7–10 while it was not significant on postoperative day 3 (***P<0.001). (B) The mean score of wound healing was higher in propolis group compared with the control group on post-operative day 7–10 while it was not significant on postoperative day 3. ***P=0.002.

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