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Evidence summaries

Silicone Gel Sheeting for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars

Silicone gel sheeting may be of some benefit as a prevention for abnormal scarring in high risk individuals. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 20 studies with a total of 873 subjects ranging in age from 1.5 to 81 years. The trials compared adhesive silicone gel sheeting with no treatment, non silicone dressing, other silicone products, laser therapy, triamcinolone acetonide injection, topical onion extract and pressure therapy. In the prevention studies, when compared with a no treatment option, silicone gel sheeting reduced the incidence of hypertrophic scarring in people prone to scarring (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.98; 2 studies, n=51). In treatment studies, silicone gel sheeting produced a statistically significant reduction in scar thickness (MD -2.00, 95% CI -2.14 to -1.85; 2 studies, n=77) and colour amelioration (RR 3.49, 95% CI 1.97 to 6.15; 5 studies, n=151).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and blinding) and by imprecise results (few patients for each comparison).

References

  • O'Brien L, Jones DJ. Silicone gel sheeting for preventing and treating hypertrophic and keloid scars. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(9):CD003826. [PubMed].

Primary/Secondary Keywords