title: Microdebrider vs electrocautery: a comparison of tonsillar wound healing histopathology in a canine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate tonsillar wound healing histopathology in a canine model following microdebrider intracapsular and electrocautery tonsillectomy techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, single-blinded, paired comparison of histopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve beagles underwent tonsillectomies by microdebrider on one side and electrocautery on the other. Punch biopsies were taken of the tonsillar fossae on postoperative days 3, 9, and 20. Specimens were graded with a novel mucosal wound healing scale (inter-rater reliability, r = 0.83) and appropriate statistical analysis performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined mucosal wound healing scale scores showed significantly faster healing on the microdebrider side when compared to the electrocautery side on postoperative day 3 and day 9 (P < 0.05), which equalized by day 20.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a canine model of tonsillar wound healing, microdebrider intracapsular tonsillectomy produced significantly faster healing than electrocautery tonsillectomy in the early postoperative course. The "biologic dressing" theory of intracapsular tonsillectomy wound healing may account for observed differences in healing and suggests a mechanism for improved clinical outcomes.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors: Kaalan
authors: K
authors: Johnson
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Vaughan
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Derkay
authors: J Camille
authors: JC
authors: Welch
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Werner
authors: M Ann
authors: MA
authors: Kuhn
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Singletary
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Bondy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003646:Debridement; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing