ABSTRACT
The formation of hypertrophic scars is common following healing of the burn wound, particularly in children. The face is one of the areas of the body most frequently affected by burns. Scar formation as a result of burn wounds leads to contraction of the formed granulation tissue, which causes both aesthetic and functional impairment for the patient. Scarring has major psychological and physical repercussions. Scarring on the face and visible regions of the body can be very distressing for the patient. Prevention of scars involves early and continuous use of a compressive orthesis. However, their efficacy is often limited to the facial region because of the contours of this area of body. This paper describes a clinical case of post-burn hypertrophic scars treated with silicone gel sheeting applied with pressure under custom made auto-polymerizing resin stent.
Subject(s)
Burns/complications , Child , Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/etiology , Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/therapy , Facial Injuries/complications , Female , Humans , Occlusive Dressings , Prosthodontics , Silicone Gels/administration & dosage , StentsABSTRACT
Silicone gel sheeting is widely used to manage the hypertrophic or keloid scars. Since first reported in 1982 to be an effective treatment for burn scars and contractures, many authors reported its efficacy to treat scars. Chemically silicone gel sheet composed of cross-linked dimethy1 and vinyl enblocked polydimethylsiloxane polymer. The exact mechanism of silicone gel sheet to treat hypertrophic scar was still unknown, but decreasing the water vapor transmission was supposed to level the scar. During out clinical experience, a few patients suffered from skin problems by silicone gel sheeting. So we designed a study to determine the severity of skin hypersensitivity of silicone gel sheeting. Four types of silicone gel sheets were applied to upper arms of 140 healthy voluntees. Resultant skin lesions were analysed 48 and 96 hours later to differentiate the irritation and the true hypersensitivity. About 30 percent of voluteers represented mild skin irritability(48 hours later), but true skin hypersensitivity was not found(96 hours later). The site to be applied with silicone gel sheet is very critical area, so pretesting the irritability of silicone gel sheeting to individuals is an important step to control the hypertrophic scar.