title: Use of silicone gel sheets for prevention of keloid scars after median sternotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A keloid scar often appears at the incision site of patients after median sternotomy. Use of silicone gel to treat hypertrophic burn scars and fresh incisions has yielded encouraging results. In this study, we report our experience with the preventive use of silicone gel sheets for keloid scars after median sternotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients who underwent a median sternotomy were studied. A silicone gel sheet was kept directly on the surgical incision for 24 h starting 2 weeks after surgery. The treatment was repeated with a new sheet every 4 weeks for 24 weeks, at which times the subjective symptoms and the changes in keloid scars were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients experienced an aggravation of any subjective symptoms during the 24-week study. After 24 weeks, all patients were free of a keloid scar that showed a rise and contraction of skin and causes discomfort. No adverse events were reported by any of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A silicone gel sheet is safe and effective for the preventing the formation of keloid scars after median sternotomy.
authors: Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
authors: Motoki
authors: M
authors: Sakuraba
authors: Nobumasa
authors: N
authors: Takahashi
authors: Taku
authors: T
authors: Akahoshi
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Miyasaka
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056346:Sternotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels