RESUMEN
CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the proposition that hyaluronic acid (HA) provides a moist wound-healing environment to aid in the healing process of tympanic membrane perforation. A single MeroGel administration can be effective as well as daily topical HA application in the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations. A single application of esterified HA may be more suitable for patients and also for otolaryngologists. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single MeroGel application on traumatic tympanic membrane perforations in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The posterior quadrant of the tympanic membranes in both ears of 24 male pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats was perforated with a 20-gauge needle. Subjects were divided into two groups: MeroGel and daily topical HA-treated groups. All subjects were sacrificed and histopathological examinations of the tympanic bullas were carried out. RESULTS: Perforations of controls, and MeroGel- and daily HA-treated groups closed in 17/24 (70.8%), 11/12 (91.7%), and 12/12 (100%) ears, respectively. There was a significant difference between control and MeroGel-treated groups, and also between control and daily topical HA-treated groups for the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), lymphocytes and collagen fibrils (p<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between MeroGel- and daily topical HA-treated groups (p>0.05).