The effect of nasal packing and prednisolone on mucosal healing and reciliation in a sheep model.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

To determine whether topical prednisolone affected sinus mucosal healing in a sheep animal model.

METHODS OF STUDY

A standardised sheep model with concurrent Oestrus ovus infection was utilised. Following full thickness nasal mucosal injuries, hyaluronic acid packs soaked with prednisolone were applied to one side of the nasal cavity, with hyaluronic acid packs without prednisolone, to the other. At four weekly intervals, for 16 weeks, mucosal biopsies were taken and analysed for epithelial thickness and length, for cilial height and percentage of ciliated mucosa and mucosal inflammation.

RESULTS

Eighteen sheep were utilised, with each acting as its own control. At completion of the study there was no statistical difference between the control or treatment group for the percentage of mucosal epithelialisation (mean: 86.5% vs 92.2%), epithelial thickness (mean: 39.7 microns vs 39.3 microns or the percentage of epithelium ciliated (mean: 26.5% vs 30.8%). Furthermore prednisolone had no effect on mucosal inflammation with the control arm mean score of 3.44 (SD .022) and treatment arm mean of 3.77 (SD 0.21).

CONCLUSION

Hyaluronic acid nasal packs soaked in prednisolone failed to improve the speed of mucosal healing or re-ciliation in the sheep model of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis.