Self-Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel in Endonasal Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE To investigate whether self-cross-linked HA hydrogel fill stimulates wound mucosal regeneration and its epithelialization around the ostia to improve long-term ostial patency in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR). METHODS One hundred and ninety-two patients with unilateral primary chronic dacryocystitis (PCD) were randomized divided into 2 groups: group A (the HA hydrogel group) and group B (the control group). All patients underwent En-DCR. The HA hydrogel group received HA hydrogel filling the ostium at the end of the surgery and the control group received no treatment. The mucosal epithelialization of the wound, the formation of granulation, the formation of scars, and the success rate of ostial patency were compared. RESULTS Our study included 82 patients in group A and 79 patients in group B. At the 2-week follow up, 74 patients (90.2%) in the group A had a healed ostium with a lining of intact epithelial mucosa. It was higher when compared with 56 patients (70.9%) in group B (X2 = 9.698, P < 0.05). At the 12-month follow up, Granulation were present in 7.3% of patients in group A which was significantly lower than the 19.0% of patients in group B (X2 = 4.831, P < 0.05). No statistical difference was found with scars formation between 2 groups (X2 = 1.607, P = 0.205). The success rate of ostial patency was 89.0% (73/82) in group A and 77.2% (61/79) in group B. The success rate was much higher in group A than group B (X2 = 4.02, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Self-cross-linked HA hydrogel may enhance the success rate of En-DCR for PCD by promoting mucosal epithelial healing and preventing excessive granulation.