Comparison of honey cream and phenytoin cream effects on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women

Episiotomy is the most common surgery in gynecology which can cause infection or delay in wound healing. This study aims to compare the effects of honey cream and phenytoin cream on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women. This double- blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 120 nulliparous women referred to social security hospital of Kashan (40 subjects in each three groups; phenytoin cream, honey cream, and 40 placebo). After delivery and episiotomy, mothers used a knuckle of prescribed cream in their sutures area every night for 10 nights. Tools consisted of demographic and midwifery information questionnaire, REEDA scale form and drug effects information form. Investigation of wound healing using REEDA scale, took place in the first 24 hours and on the seventh and fourteenth days after delivery. To analyze data, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests were used. The subjects completed written informed consents. The three groups were similar in healing score, based on REEDA checklist in the 24 hours after delivery. On the seventh day postpartum there was a significant difference (p= 0.011). Healing score in honey group was lower than placebo (p= 0.05), which showed a better wound healing. But there was not a significant difference between phenytoin and placebo group. Also there was no significant difference between honey and phenytoin cream group. On fourteenth day after delivery, the healing scores between the three groups showed no significant difference. Data showed that using both honey and phenytoin cream resulted in episiotomy wound healing, however honey cream caused episiotomy wound healing better than phenytoin cream and placebo.