Efficacy of glycerol and flax seed oil as anti-adhesive barriers after thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND We evaluated the effects of local flax seed oil and glycerol application for reducing adhesion formation after thyroidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS We randomly assigned 18 female Wistar albino rats (median weight: 275 g, median age: 4.5 mth) to 3 groups: 0.1 ml 0.9% NaCl, glycerol, and flax seed oil were sprayed in a perithyroidal area after thyroidectomy operation on all animals as anti-adhesive barriers. Rats were sacrificed on the postoperative 14th day and adhesions were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. RESULTS The median macroscopic adhesion score was 3.0±0.0 in the 0.9% NaCl group, 1.33±0.52 in the glycerol group, and 1.67±0.53 in the flax seed oil group. The median histopathological fibrosis scores were 2.33±0.82, 0.67±0.52, and 0.83±0.75, respectively. Both glycerol and flaxseed oil group macroscopic and microscopic scores were significantly lower than the 0.9% NaCl group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Glycerol and flax seed oil both decrease the incidence of post-thyroidectomy adhesion in rats, but glycerol is more effective.