title: Topical Application of Honey on Surgical Wounds: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of honey and its ability to accelerate wound healing make it an attractive option in surgical wound care. We performed a randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy of honey dressing with conventional dressing regarding the aesthetic outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral symmetric incisions in randomly selected plastic surgical patients were randomly covered postoperatively with conventional dressing and honey dressing for five days. The aesthetic outcome of the two sides was rated on a Visual Analog Scale by the surgeon and the patient and compared at month three and six after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy two symmetrical incisions in 52 patients were evaluated during the study. The mean width of the scar after the third and the sixth month was 3.64 +/- 0.83 mm and 3.49 +/- 0.87 mm on the side that received honey dressing and 5.43 +/- 0.05 mm and 5.30+/- 1.35 mm in the control group. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed significant difference between honey and conventional dressing outcomes at third and sixth month (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The healing process of the surgical wound and its final aesthetic result could be improved by using honey dressing.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Peiman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goharshenasan
authors.forename: Shahideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atria
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abtahi
authors.forename: Ghasemali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khorasani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D007492:Iran; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing