Yue-Hua Li1, Jiaomei Yang2, Jia-Qi Liu1, Song-Tao Xie1, Yi-Jie Zhang1, Wei Zhang1, Ju-Lei Zhang1, Zhao Zheng3, Da-Hai Hu4. 1. Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. 3. Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. zhengzhao123@msn.com. 4. Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. xjburnlab@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Linear hypertrophic scar is a common surgical problem that can be difficult to manage, especially for the median sternotomy scar. Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) is widely used in cosmetic surgery and has been shown to improve scar quality recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of BTA injected in the early postoperative of median sternotomy on preventing scar formation. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 19 consecutive patients who underwent median sternotomy were enrolled. The median sternotomy wound in each patient was divided into the upper half and the lower half. Both halves of the wound were randomized to receive the treatment with either BTA or normal saline. At 6-month follow-up, scars were assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale, scar widths were measured, and patients were asked to evaluate their overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with median sternotomy wounds completed the entire study. At 6-month follow-up, the mean Vancouver Scar Scale score for the BTA-treated group was 3.44 ± 1.68 and for the normal saline control group was 6.29 ± 2.39, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). There were also significant improvements in scar width and patient satisfaction for the BTA-treated halves of the wounds (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that early postoperative BTA injection can decrease scar formation and reduce scar width in median sternotomy wounds, and the overall appearance is more satisfactory. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
BACKGROUND: Linear hypertrophic scar is a common surgical problem that can be difficult to manage, especially for the median sternotomy scar. Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) is widely used in cosmetic surgery and has been shown to improve scar quality recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of BTA injected in the early postoperative of median sternotomy on preventing scar formation. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 19 consecutive patients who underwent median sternotomy were enrolled. The median sternotomy wound in each patient was divided into the upper half and the lower half. Both halves of the wound were randomized to receive the treatment with either BTA or normal saline. At 6-month follow-up, scars were assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale, scar widths were measured, and patients were asked to evaluate their overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with median sternotomy wounds completed the entire study. At 6-month follow-up, the mean Vancouver Scar Scale score for the BTA-treated group was 3.44 ± 1.68 and for the normal saline control group was 6.29 ± 2.39, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). There were also significant improvements in scar width and patient satisfaction for the BTA-treated halves of the wounds (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that early postoperative BTA injection can decrease scar formation and reduce scar width in median sternotomy wounds, and the overall appearance is more satisfactory. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Entities:
Keywords:
Botulinum toxin type A; Hypertrophic scar; Median sternotomy; Wound
Authors: Shayan M Sarrami; Anna J Skochdopole; Andrew M Ferry; Edward P Buchanan; Larry H Hollier; Robert F Dempsey Journal: Semin Plast Surg Date: 2021-06-08 Impact factor: 2.314