Honey dressing versus paraffin tulle gras following toenail surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Anecdotal reports suggest that certain honey dressings have a positive effect on wound healing. However, there is limited empirical evidence supporting its use. This double-blind randomised controlled trial investigated the effect of a honey dressing on wound healing following toenail surgery with matrix phenolisation.


METHODS
Participants (n=100) were randomly assigned to receive either an active manuka honey dressing (n=52) or paraffin-impregnated tulle gras (n=48). The primary outcome was time (days) taken for complete re-epithelialisation of the nail bed.


RESULTS
Mean healing times were 40.30 days (SD 18.21) for the honey group and 39.98 days (SD 25.42) for the paraffin tulle gras group. Partial avulsion wounds healed statistically significantly faster (p=0.01) with paraffin tulle gras (19.62 days, SD 9.31) than with the honey dressing (31.76 days, SD 18.8), but no significant difference (p=0.21) was found following total avulsion when comparing honey (45.28 days, SD 18.03.) with paraffin tulle gras dressings (52.03 days, SD 21.3).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that patients may benefit more from paraffin tulle gras dressings than honey dressings following partial toenail avulsion. No statistically significant difference was found for healing times after total toenail avulsion, although the marginal benefit of the honey dressing on these healing times warrants further investigation.
McIntosh
C D
CD
Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Huddersfield, UK. c.mcintosh@hud.ac.uk
Thomson
C E
CE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009262:Nails / Q000601:surgery*; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010577:Petrolatum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D010577:Petrolatum