The effects of articaine hydrochloride on wound healing: an experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine the effect of articaine hydrochloride (AH) on the healing of surgical wounds and to compare healing with that of lidocaine.


METHODS
Forty rats were used in this study. The rats were randomly separated into 4 groups. Three groups were given 2% lidocaine, 4% AH, or injectable saline, and the fourth was a control group. Skin specimens underwent the breaking strength test (BST) and histologic examination at 1 week after the surgical procedure. The skin specimens of the rats were subjected to a pulling force of 10 mm/min across the incision line. The strength value at the moment of breaking in the tissue was expressed in Newtons. Histologic examination was performed as well, and wound healing was graded.


RESULTS
Both the histologic grade and BST values in the lidocaine and AH groups were significantly lower than those of the control and saline groups (P <.01). Similarly, the histologic and BST values of the AH and lidocaine groups were statistically significant (P <.05, P <.001). Some necrotic regions were observed at the incision region in 2 samples from the AH group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study showed that AH is as safe a local anesthetic agent as lidocaine from the standpoint of wound response.
Doğan
Necdet
N
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Uçok
Cahit
C
Korkmaz
Cem
C
Uçok
Ozlem
O
Karasu
Hakan Alpay
HA
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002355:Carticaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D002355:Carticaine