Can a cohesive silicone bandage outperform an adhesive silicone gel sheet in the treatment of scars? A randomised comparative trial.

BACKGROUND: The use of topical silicone to treat scars is widespread and various randomised clinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy to treat scars. A new form of silicone application is a cohesive elastic bandage. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of this bandage versus an adhesive silicone gel sheet on scar elasticity after burn injury. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in a randomised, prospective, single-blind, single-centre, comparative, parallel-group study. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 treatment arms: one for treatment with a cohesive silicone bandage, and the other for treatment with a silicone gel sheet. The colour was objectively measured using a Minolta Chromameter® and the Cutometer® was used to assess vertical elasticity. For subjective assessment of the scars we used the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). RESULTS: Our results reveal that there were no significant differences between the two interventions for most subjective assessments and colour measurements. However, the group who received treatment with the cohesive silicone bandage did seem to perform statistically significantly better than the silicone gel sheet group for vertical elasticity and the global score of the POSAS observer. This was probably due to the unique microstructure of the bandage which ensured a standardised pressure together with uninterrupted contact with the skin. CONCLUSION: An elastic cohesive silicone bandage seems to outperform silicone gel sheets for vertical elasticity when treating hypertrophic burn scars. The authors recommend including timing of application and duration of application in future studies. Financial Disclosure Statement: The funding sponsor of this study was Gottlieb Binder Gmbh & Co. KG, Bahnhofstr. 19, 71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany. The authors have no financial interests to declare The study was approved by the local Ethical Committee of ZNA Antwerp 009 OG.031 under the E.C. approval number 4046. The trial is registered as EUDRACT n° 003834-26 Corresponding author: Peter Moortgat, Oscare, Van Roiestraat 18, 2170 Antwerp, Belgium. Email: peter.moortgat@oscare.be ©2018American Society of Plastic Surgeons

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