The effect of flaxseed ointment on intensity of cesarean wound pain: randomized clinical trial

Cesarean section is one of the most common surgeries and is usually followed by pain. According to some studies, flaxseed oil may reduce pain. The present study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of flaxseed oil ointment on the severity of cesarean section wound pain.

This triple-blind randomized clinical trial study was performed in 2018 with participation of 120 women who had cesarean section in Imam Reza and Shahid Hasheminejad hospitals in Mashhad. Individuals were randomly assigned into to three groups (flaxseed ointment, placebo, control). In two groups of flaxseed ointment and placebo, the ointment was applied on cesarean section wound. The intensity of wound pain was measured 24 hours after surgery, 4th and 8th day after cesarean section by pain intensity Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25), and Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

According to the results of statistical tests, there was statistically significant difference between flaxseed group with control and placebo groups in terms of cesarean section wound pain intensity on days 4 and 8 after the intervention (P <0.001). In addition, in the intergroup comparison, Friedman test showed that in all three groups, the variation of pain intensity scale was significantly different in different days (P <0.001).

Regarding the reduction of pain intensity cesarean wound score after the intervention, flaxseed oil due to its effective ingredients can greatly reduce the severity of cesarean section wound pain.