title: A useful method to overcome the difficulties of applying silicone gel sheet on irregular surfaces.
abstract: To date, silicone gel and silicone occlusive plates are the most useful and effective treatment options for hypertrophic scars (surgical and traumatic). Use of silicone sheeting has also been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of minor keloids in association with corticosteroid intralesional infiltration. In our practice, we encountered four problems: maceration, rashes, pruritus and infection. Not all patients are able to tolerate the cushion, especially children, and certain anatomical regions as the face and the upper chest are not easy to dress for obvious social, psychological and aesthetic reasons. In other anatomical regions, it is also difficult to obtain adequate compression and occlusion of the scar. To overcome such problems of applying silicone gel sheeting, we tested the use of liquid silicone gel (LSG) in the treatment of 18 linear hypertrophic scars (HS group) and 12 minor keloids (KS group) as an alternative to silicone gel sheeting or cushion. Objective parameters (volume, thickness and colour) and subjective symptoms such as pain and pruritus were examined. Evaluations were made when the therapy started and after 30, 90 and 180 days of follow-up. After 90 days of treatment with silicone gel alone (two applications daily), HS group showed a significant improvement in terms of volume decrease, reduced inflammation and redness and improved elasticity. In conclusion, on the basis of our clinical data, we find LSG to be a useful method to overcome the difficulties of applying silicone gel sheeting on irregular surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grella
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ari
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romanucci
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005782:Gels; D020034:Silicone Gels; D014221:Triamcinolone
keywords: Dermatologic surgery; Hypertrophic scar; Keloid; Liquid silicone gel; Plastic surgery; Scar therapy; Scar treatment