title: [The treatment of chronic wounds in the head and neck area after radiotherapy with medical honey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wound healing problems and chronic wounds can be a therapeutic challenge are a frequent problem after radiotherapy. They can appear spontaneously or after further surgery. The permanently altered tissue is associated with recurrent bacterial infections with weeping wounds, which cannot be treated sufficiently by conventional conservative wound care. The topical application of medical honey seems to have a positive effect in such cases. The aim of this prospectively study is to check this effectiveness in the treatment of wound healing problems and chronic wounds in the head and neck area of irradiated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period of July 2012 until August 2013 nine patients were treated with medical honey. All pa-tients had previously radiotherapy in the head and neck area. 5 patients had protracted wound healing problems after salvage surgery. The remaining 4 cases had spontaneously dehiscenced wounds at the beginning of the study. The wound healing was confirmed by measurement of the wound edges and depth and by adequate photo documentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, the conventional wound care was unsuccessfully. In 8 of 9 cases, the wounds could be brought to cure by the application of medical honey over 3-8 weeks. Side effects or allergic reactions to the medical honey were not seen in any -cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our clinical experience we believe that the topical application of medical honey in non-healing or recurrent wounds in the head and neck area after radiotherapy is a reason-able and successful alternative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rothmeier
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Strahlentherapie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abu-Jawad
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnolds
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arweiler-Harbeck
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dominas
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zander
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattheis
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant