The Histopathological Effect of Aloe Vera on the Wound Healing Process in a Surgically Created Tubularized Incised Plate Urethroplasty Model on Rats

Background Hypospadias is a common congenital anomaly which is determined as an abnormal urethral opening on the ventral face of penis. The purpose of this rat model study was to research the effect of topically applied Aloe vera after a tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU). Methods The TIPU model was applied to male Wistar albino rats. A total of 30 rats were randomly grouped into 3 groups of 10. Group I was assigned as the control group, treated with 0.9% saline only twice a day for 15 days. Group II received topical Aloe vera gel once a day and Group III received Aloe vera gel twice a day. Spongiofibrosis was graded as 0: none, 1+:<= 10% tissues involved, 2+:10%-49% tissues involved, 3+: >= 50% tissues involved. Results A higher degree of fibrosis and inflammation was determined in the Group I subjects than in Groups II and III. Fibrosis of grade 3+ was observed in 33% of the control group and not in any of the two Aloe groups (p = 0.043). Inflammation of grade 3+ was seen in 66.7% of the control group, in 10% of Group II, and in 33% of Group III (p = 0.02). Conclusions The topical application of Aloe vera to a surgically created tubularized incised plate urethroplasty model decreased inflammation and fibrosis that may affect the success rates of this operation.