title: The effects of topical agent (kelo-cote or contractubex) massage on the thickness of post-burn scar tissue formed in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted an experimental study to compare the effect of massage using topical agents (Kelo-cote or Contractubex) on scar formation by massaging the healed burn wound on the dorsal area of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four areas of second degree contact burn were made on the dorsal area of each of 15 SD rats, using a soldering iron 15 mm in diameter. After gross epithelialization in the defect, 15 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: the Kelo-cote group, Contractubex group, Vaseline group, and control group. Rats in three of the groups (all but the Control group) were massaged twice per day for 5 minutes each day, while those in the Control group were left unattended. For histologic analysis, we performed a biopsy and evaluated the thickness of scar tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Kelo-cote and Contractubex groups, scar tissue thicknesses showed a significant decrease, compared with the Vaseline and control groups. However, no significant differences were observed between the Kelo-cote and Contractubex groups. In the Vaseline group, scar tissue thicknesses showed a significant decrease, compared with the control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study suggest that massage using a topical agent is helpful in the prevention of scar formation and that massage only with lubricant (no use of a topical agent) also has a considerable effect, although not as much as the use of a topical agent. Thus, we recommend massage with a topical agent on the post-burn scar as an effective method for decreasing the scar thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Young Cheon
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Bum Sin
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hyeon A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo Hoe
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Gum Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seo Ul
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Burns; Cicatrix, hypertrophic; Massage; Wound healing