Nasal Packing Materials and Placement Duration on Wound Healing in Nasal Mucosa: An Animal Study

Objective: The histological findings of wound healing depending on different nasal packing materials and replacement periods were lacking.Methods: Mucosal defects were created in the nasal septum of rabbits and covered with Spongel (R), Algoderm (R), or Nasopore (R), which were cleaned on Day 14. To investigate the effect of replacement durations, Spongel (R) was removed on Days 3 and 7. All nasal septal specimens were collected on Day 28. Samples without packing material were prepared as controls. Depending on residual packing materials in the regenerated tissue, specimens were classified into the remnant and non-remnant groups, and morphology was compared using epithelium grade score and subepithelial thickness.Results: The epithelium grade score in the Spongel-14d group was lower than that in the other groups (p < 0.05). Subepithelial thickness was higher in the Algoderm-14d and Spongel-14d groups (p < 0.05). Epithelium grade scores were higher and subepithelial thicknesses were lower in the Spongel-3d and -7d groups than in the Spongel-14d group. Epithelium grade score was lower and subepithelial thickness was higher in the remnant group (n = 10) than in the non-remnant group (n = 15; p < 0.05).Conclusions: Differences in packing materials and placement durations affected wound healing of nasal mucosa. The selection of appropriate packing materials and replacement duration was considered essential for ideal wound healing.