CHLORHEXIDINE IN AN ALCOHOL VEHICLE with flavoring agents has been use
d as a mouthrinse to reduce plaque accumulation in periodontal surgery
patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a
chlorhexidine-containing mouthrinse on the early tensile wound strengt
h of healing surgical wounds in the rat. Standardized transdermal inci
sions were made on each lateral abdominal wall of 40 Sprague-Dawley ra
ts. Wounds were irrigated with 10 ml of 0.12% chlorhexidine or 10 ml o
f normal saline prior to closure. Animals were sacrificed at 48 hours
and 96 hours, and the wound area was excised by a standardized protoco
l. Wound strength was measured using constant speed tensiometry to det
ermine the tensile strength of the healing incision. Results revealed
a significantly reduced tensile wound strength at 48 hours for the chl
orhexidine-treated group (127 +/- 18.5 gm) compared to the saline irri
gation group (150 +/- 32.3 gm) (P <0.001). However, by 96 hours a sign
ificantly increased tensile wound strength was demonstrated by the chl
orhexidine treated group (202.1 +/- 21.7 gm) compared to the saline ir
rigation group (183.2 +/- 37.3 gm) (P<0.05). These data suggest that c
hlorhexidine-containing mouthrinse irrigation of wounds produced a red
uced early tensile wound strength, but ultimately resulted in shorter
healing time.