RESUMO
Delayed wound healing in surgical patients who have received previous irradiation continues to be a significant problem. The aim of this study is to investigate whether radiation decreases the process of wound healing and whether supplemental vitamin C and honey can improve irradiated post surgical soft tissue healing. Forty adult male albino rats were used in this work. They were divided equally into four groups. Group I the animals were wounded only, Group II the animals were wounded then irradiated, Group III the animals were treated with vitamin C plus combined irradiation and wound, Group IV animals received local application of honey plus combined irradiation and wound. Animals were sacrificed after 5 days and the wound area was cleaned carefully with 70% alcohol and the entire length of wound was excised. The specimens were fixed in formalin and processed for paraffin sections and light microscopy. Group II showed marked delay in the process of wound healing and large necrotic tissue and ulceration. In group III the wound showed complete epithelialization and the epidermis was several cells thick. In group IV there was also complete epithelialization but the epidermis was formed of few layers of flat cells and there was also persistence of excessive granulation tissue. Therefore, the present work demonstrates that the use of vitamin C is of great value in improving the process of healing of wounds exposed to irradiation