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The Effect of Chlorhexidine Irrigation on Tensile Wound Strength
Author(s) -
Shahan Michael H.,
Chuang A. Henry,
Brennan William A.,
Dirksen Thomas R.,
Van Dyke Thomas E.,
McPherson James C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1993.64.8.719
Subject(s) - chlorhexidine , saline , ultimate tensile strength , medicine , wound healing , chlorhexidine gluconate , dentistry , surgery , anesthesia , materials science , composite material
C hlorhexidine in an alcohol vehicle with flavoring agents has been used as a mouthrinse to reduce plaque accumulation in periodontal surgery patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a chlorhexidine‐containing mouthrinse on the early tensile wound strength of healing surgical wounds in the rat. Standardized transdermal incisions were made on each lateral abdominal wall of 40 Sprague‐Dawley rats. Wounds were irrigated with 10 ml of 0.12% Chlorhexidine or 10 ml of normal saline prior to closure. Animals were sacrificed at 48 hours and 96 hours, and the wound area was excised by a standardized protocol. Wound strength was measured using constant speed tensiometry to determine the tensile strength of the healing incision. Results revealed a significantly reduced tensile wound strength at 48 hours for the chlorhexidinetreated group (127 ± 18.5 gm) compared to the saline irrigation group (150 ± 32.3 gm) ( P <0.001). However, by 96 hours a significantly increased tensile wound strength was demonstrated by the Chlorhexidine treated group (202.1 ± 21.7 gm) compared to the saline irrigation group (183.2 ± 37.3 gm) ( P <0.05). These data suggest that chlorhexidine‐containing mouthrinse irrigation of wounds produced a reduced early tensile wound strength, but ultimately resulted in shorter healing time. J Periodontol 1993; 64:719–722 .