Evaluating tamoxifen effect in the prevention of hypertrophic scars following surgical incisions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical utility of tamoxifen in the prevention of hypertrophic scars (HTSs).


METHODS
In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 300 patients with a history of HTSs who underwent surgery with different skin incisions were assigned randomly to two groups. The first received tamoxifen tablets postoperatively according to a standard protocol, and the control group received placebo. After 2 months, the two groups were compared according to the development of HTSs, and the results were analyzed.


RESULTS
The studied population comprised 235 men (78.7%) and 65 women (21.7%) who developed HTSs after surgical incision, 138 of whom (92%) were in the study group and 78 (52%) in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen seems to be an effective agent in the prevention of HTSs after surgery.
Mousavi
Seyed Reza
SR
Department of Surgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Shohada Tahrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran. seyed29@yahoo.com
Raaiszadeh
Mohamad
M
Aminseresht
Mohamad
M
Behjoo
Shahin
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen