Effects of phenytoin injection on vocal cord healing after mechanical trauma: An experimental study

Abstract

Background/aim: Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant drug which causes fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and an increase inepidermal growth factor. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of phenytoin injection on the wound healingprocess in rats with vocal cord injury by histopathological methods.Materials and methods: The vocal cords of 10 albino Wistar rats were damaged bilaterally; the left vocal cord was kept as the controlgroup. Phenytoin was injected in the right vocal cord. Ten rats were sacrificed. The thickness of the lamina propria and density of thefibroblast and collagen were evaluated histopathologically.Results: Thickness of the lamina propria was 18.0 ± 7.1 µm in the control group, 65.5 ± 10.7 µm in the phenytoin group. The density offibroblast and collagen were statistically lower in the control group compared the phenytoin group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Phenytoin injection in rats after vocal cord injury significantly increased the thickness of the lamina propria and density offibroblast and regular and mature collagen in the lamina propria. The findings in our study provide a feasible scientific view for addingphenytoin treatment to vocal cord surgeries in otolaryngology practice, but further studies are needed in order to evaluate the use ofphenytoin in preventing the formation of scar tissue and possible effects on vocal cord vibration in humans after vocal cord injury.