Abstract
Introduction
The surgical wound of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) needs continuous flexion and extension movement. Silicone gel treatment is widely used to treat hypertrophic scars and keloids since it is easily applied and prevents scar pain and itching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of silicone gel applied to surgical scars of TKA on postoperative scar pain and pruritus.
Materials and methods
One hundred TKAs were randomized into a silicone gel group (silicone gel was applied to the wound after stitch-out for 1 month) or a placebo group. The postoperative scar pain and pruritus were evaluated with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) at postoperative 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Scar assessment was done using the Vancouver scar scale by evaluating scar pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and height.
Results
Although silicone gel group showed better pigmentation and height scales than placebo group (P < 0.05), there were no significant differences in the postoperative scar pain and pruritus VAS scores between the groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
Application of silicone gel had no beneficial effects on scar pain and itching relief during the early postoperative period of TKA.
Level of evidence
I-Randomized Controlled Trial
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All authors declare that they have no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
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Kong, CG., Kim, GH., Kim, DW. et al. The effect of topical scar treatment on postoperative scar pain and pruritus after total knee arthroplasty. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134, 555–559 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1942-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1942-7