Articles: cicatrix-therapy.
-
J Burn Care Rehabil · Nov 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of enhanced patient education on compliance with silicone gel sheeting and burn scar outcome: a randomized prospective study.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether enhanced patient education increases compliance with silicone gel sheeting (SGS) on hypertrophic (HT) scars and to determine whether this results in any improvement in scar outcome. Outpatients with a HT burn scar were randomized to either a conventional education group (CEG), which received routine instruction on the use of SGS or to an enhanced education Group (EEG), which also received routine instruction, along with a detailed 5-page handout and a 26-minute videotape. The CEG (n = 12, 67% male, age 38 +/- 10 years) and the EEG (n = 13, 77% male, age 47 +/- 10 years) were followed monthly for 6 months. ⋯ Patients in the EEG had significantly better subjective ratings for the parameters of scar itch (P =.01), color (P =.02), hardness (P =.01), and elevation (P =.01). Finally, scars in the EEG had significantly better ratings for border height (P =.002) and thickness (P =.01) at 6 months based on evaluation of digital photographs. Detailed multimedia patient education improves compliance with SGS and results in a better scar outcome.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Pulsed dye laser treatment of burn scars. Alleviation or irritation?
Burn scars are very common in both children and adults, causing great morbidity and often pose a difficult management problem. This study investigated the efficacy of the dye laser in patients with symptomatic burn scars and analysed the impact of the laser treatment on scar redness, surface texture and pruritus. ⋯ The 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser is an effective treatment for the intense pruritus often experienced during the healing process after a burn injury. This study has not shown other benefits, such as reduction in scar redness, height and textural improvement to be statistically significant. There is evidence that blood vessel diameters in hypertrophic scar tissue are much smaller than the vessels in port wine stains for which this laser was designed to treat. Therefore, by decreasing the pulse width, more vascular specific damage in the scar may be possible. It is likely that the beneficial effects demonstrated thus far result from changes to the chemical signals that regulate the scar growth and symptoms.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Silicone versus nonsilicone gel dressings: a controlled trial.
Silicone gel dressings decrease scar volume and soften hypertrophic tissue, allowing it to be more easily controlled by other methods. Although silicone does not appear to be an essential component of the treatment, nonsilicone dressings have been reported to cause no change in physical parameters during a 2-month treatment period. ⋯ Silicone and nonsilicone gel dressings are equally effective in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled study to assess the efficacy of the 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser and silicone gel sheeting in hypertrophic scar treatment.
To determine the efficacy of the 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser and silicone gel sheeting in the treatment of hypertrophic scars in lighter- and darker-skinned patients. ⋯ Clinical results demonstrate that the improvements in scar sections treated with silicone gel sheeting and pulsed-dye laser were no different than in control sections.
-
Case Reports Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cica-Care gel sheeting in the management of hypertrophic scarring.
A prospective, controlled clinical trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of two types of silicone gel, Silastic Gel Sheeting (SGS) and Cica-Care (CC), in the management of hypertrophic scars. Forty-two patients were randomly assigned to SGS and CC groups and their hypertrophic scars were divided into treated and control areas. Extensometric measurements were made at monthly intervals for 6 months and significant improvement of the treated areas relative to the control areas was observed. The two gels were not significantly different in efficacy or safety, but CC, being more adhesive and more comfortable than SGS, has advantages in ease of use and patient acceptability.