Topical silicone gel for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scar
S. T. Ahn, W. W. Monafo and T. A. Mustoe
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo 63110.
We studied the effects of a silicone gel bandage that was worn for at least
12 hours daily on the resolution of hypertrophic burn scar. In a second
cohort, the prevention of hypertrophic scar formation in fresh surgical
incisions by this bandage was also evaluated. In 19 patients with
hypertrophic burn scars, elasticity of the scars was quantitated serially
with the use of an elastometer. An adjacent or mirror-image hypertrophic
burn scar served as a control. Scar elasticity was increased after both 1
and 2 months compared with that in controls. There was corresponding
improvement clinically that persisted for at least 6 months. In the other
cohort, scar volume changes in 21 surgical incisions were measured before
and after 1 and 2 months. Gel-treated incisions gained less volume than
control incisions after both intervals. Clinical assessment corroborated
this quantitative demonstration of a decrement in scar volume. We concluded
that topical silicone gel is efficacious, both in the prevention and in the
treatment of hypertrophic scar.
