Evaluating the Effectiveness of Honey and Standard Dressings on Wound Healing in Open Tibia Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Wound healing in open fractures presents significant challenges, especially in low-resource settings, due to high rates of complications.Honey, known for its antimicrobial and healing properties, offers a potential alternative.This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of honey dressings compared to standard dressings in wound healing for open tibia fractures.This open-label randomized comparative trial was conducted at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda, involving 100 adult patients with Gustilo IIIA open tibia fractures of whom 98 patients were analysed.Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group receiving honey dressings or the control group receiving standard saline dressings.Primary outcomes included wound healing rate at 30 days, with secondary outcomes assessing wound size, pain, odour, exudate, and cleanliness.Data analysis was performed using logistic regression, chi-square tests, and Bayesian methods.The honey dressing group demonstrated significantly improved outcomes, including faster wound healing, reduced pain, decreased wound odour, and a greater reduction in wound surface area by day 30 compared to the control group.Logistic regression revealed a 10.87-fold increased likelihood of complete healing within 30 days for the honey group (p< 0.05).The type of dressing used significantly influenced wound healing, outperforming other factors like bone coverage, previous limb injury, and residence.Honey dressings significantly enhance wound healing in open tibia fractures compared to standard dressings, suggesting their potential as an effective adjunct in fracture management, particularly in resource-limited settings.Further research is recommended to refine optimal honey application methods and concentrations.