title: A prospective randomized clinical trial to investigate the effect of silicone gel sheeting (Cica-Care) on post-traumatic hypertrophic scar among the Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the efficacy of silicone gel (Cica-Care) on severe post-traumatic hypertophic scars among the Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted on 45 Chinese patients with post-traumatic hypertrophic scars. Twenty-two subjects were placed in the experimental group with silicone gel sheeting (SGS) applied 24h per day for 6 months while all subjects were taught to massage the scar daily for 15 min serving as the control intervention. Scar assessments were conducted regularly to measure the changes in thickness, pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, itchiness and pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-way repeated ANOVA showed a significant difference between MT group and SGS group on scar thickness. The post hoc comparison analysis showed that the difference was significant at the post-2-month (p=0.008) and post-6-month (p<0.001) intervention. The SGS group also showed changes in pigmentation which resembled normal skin but no statistical significance was found. Pain, itchiness and pliability were also improved after intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that silicone gel sheeting (Cica-Care) was effective to reduce thickness, pain, itchiness and pliability of the severe hypertrophic scar among the Chinese population. The moisturization effect of the tough and hard scar might contribute to the reduction of the skin thickness after 6 month's intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, HKSAR, Hong Kong. rscecili@inet.polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Cecilia W P
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Li-Tsang
authors.forename: Joy C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chetwyn C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jianan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels