title: Effectiveness of MeroGel hyaluronic acid on tympanic membrane perforations.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the proposition that hyaluronic acid (HA) provides a moist wound-healing environment to aid in the healing process of tympanic membrane perforation. A single MeroGel administration can be effective as well as daily topical HA application in the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations. A single application of esterified HA may be more suitable for patients and also for otolaryngologists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single MeroGel application on traumatic tympanic membrane perforations in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The posterior quadrant of the tympanic membranes in both ears of 24 male pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats was perforated with a 20-gauge needle. Subjects were divided into two groups: MeroGel and daily topical HA-treated groups. All subjects were sacrificed and histopathological examinations of the tympanic bullas were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perforations of controls, and MeroGel- and daily HA-treated groups closed in 17/24 (70.8%), 11/12 (91.7%), and 12/12 (100%) ears, respectively. There was a significant difference between control and MeroGel-treated groups, and also between control and daily topical HA-treated groups for the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), lymphocytes and collagen fibrils (p<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between MeroGel- and daily topical HA-treated groups (p>0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Meram Medical Faculty, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. kayhanozturk@selcuk.edu.tr
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cihat Avunduk
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arbag
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uyar
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000473:pathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid