COMPARISON BETWEEN PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVELY BOTOX INJECTION IN SECONDARY WOUNDS HEALING

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Research
• Dermatology

Background:

• Tissue tension negatively impacts wound healing and can lead to increased scarring.
• Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are known to reduce muscle tension.
• Understanding Botox's effect on wound healing mechanisms is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of pre-operative Botox injections in improving wound healing and reducing scarring.
• To compare the effects of pre-operative versus post-operative Botox administration on wound healing.
• To analyze the impact of Botox on key molecular markers of wound healing and angiogenesis.

Main Methods:

• 18 male albino rats underwent surgical procedures with either pre-operative (Group A) or post-operative (Group B) subcutaneous injections of Botox or saline.
• Full-thickness skin excisions were performed, and wound healing was assessed.
• Immunohistochemistry for MMP-9 and CD31 expression was conducted on days 3, 7, and 14.
• Histological examination was performed on day 14.

Main Results:

• Group A (pre-operative Botox) showed significantly increased MMP-9 expression on day 3 compared to Group B.
• On day 7, Group A exhibited significantly higher CD31 expression, indicating enhanced angiogenesis.
• By day 14, both groups demonstrated robust MMP-9 and CD31 expression, with improved re-epithelialization, but pre-operative Botox showed superior results.

Conclusions:

• Pre-operative Botox injections significantly enhance wound healing compared to post-operative administration.
• Botox promotes angiogenesis and reduces fibrosis, leading to improved skin repair and reduced scarring.
• This study suggests a novel therapeutic approach for optimizing surgical wound healing through pre-emptive tension reduction.