title: Botulinum Toxin Type A and the Prevention of Hypertrophic Scars on the Maxillofacial Area and Neck: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficiency of therapeutic botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the prevention of maxillofacial and neck scars.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information came from the following electronic databases: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE (time was ended by August 31, 2015) to retrieve RCTs evaluating the effect of the BTX-A for hypertrophic scar on the maxillofacial or neck. All languages were included as long as they met the inclusion criteria. Here the effects of BTX-A were evaluated by comparing the width of the scar, patient satisfaction, and the visual analysis scores (VAS), respectively. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs), pooled odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Nine RCTs covering a total of 539 patients were included. A statistically significant difference in scar width was identified between the BTX-A group and control group (non-BTX-A used) (WMD = -0.41, 95% CI = -0.68 to -0.14, P = 0.003). A statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction was observed between the BTX-A group and control group (OR = 25.76, 95% CI = 2.58 to 256.67, P = 0.006). And in patients regarding visual analysis scores (VAS), a statistically significant difference was also observed between the BTX-A group and control group (WMD = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.60, P < 0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of the BTX-A and confirms that BTX-A is a suitable potential therapy for the prevention of hypertrophic scars in patients in the maxillofacial and neck areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.|The Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine of Shandong Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
authors.forename: Dai-Zun
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine of Shandong Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ya
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.|The Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine of Shandong Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
authors.forename: Yao-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A