Evaluation of effect of topical phenytoin on wound healing [increasing wound tensile strength and collagen deposition] in rats

Background: Delyed healing and dehiscence of operative wounds represent a significant clinical problem. Sporadic reports indicate that phenytoin may significantly promote wound healing following topical application

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Material and Methods: Ten male rats each received 4 dorsal skin incisions and were sutured immediately on proliferative and early maturation phase. The incisions were infiltrated with phenytoin or normal saline for controls randomly. The wounds were harvested 18 days after wounding and were assessed by tensiometric measurement and microscopic examination. Data was expressed as mean [sd] and were analysed using student's paired T test

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Results: Application of phenytoin, in both proliferative and maturation phases, resulted in a significant increase in wound tensile strength [34.16[8.15] N and 32.18 [7.43] N in treated wound versus 28.58 N and 26.7[4.93] N controls respectively, n = 20; P<0.01]. Application of phenytoin in these two phases had no difference. The rise in wound tensile strength was associated with increase in wound collagen deposition