Patients’ satisfaction with the effects of microporous tape on surgical scars: a randomized controlled study

Background Following surgery or other types of trauma, scar formation occurs with wound healing because of the replacement of normal skin with fibrous tissue. The conversion of a normal scar to an abnormal scar usually occurs 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Abnormal scars can be a source of patient dissatisfaction, especially following cosmetic surgical procedures. Therefore, supporting scars with tape after surgery is critical for reducing scar tension. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of patients’ satisfaction with their scar outcomes following microporous taping and to identify the determinants of scar satisfaction.Methods A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the scar satisfaction of postsurgical patients who underwent scar taping with microporous tape to those who did not. The scars were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery using the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS). The test group had microporous tape applied to their scars and the tape was worn 24 hours a day for a period of 6 months. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Categorical variables and mean PSAS scores were compared using the chi-square test and repeated-measures analysis of variance, respectively.Results At 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months the taped group had significantly lower PSAS scores and higher satisfaction scores than the control group. Scar thickness and pruritus were statistically significant determinants of patient satisfaction.Conclusions Microporous tape is an effective modality for improving scar satisfaction in postsurgical patients.

Comparison of the effect of silicone gel sheets by thickness on excisional scars in pediatric and adolescent patients

Background Selecting effective products among the various types of silicone gel sheets can be challenging for surgeons. Therefore, we assessed the effect of silicone gel sheet thickness on surgical scars in pediatric and adolescent patients.Methods From December 2017 to May 2018, we identified patients aged 1–19 years who underwent excision. Among these patients, those who were prescribed 0.3-mm or 1.0-mm-thick silicone sheets were selected. Scars were subjectively evaluated using a questionnaire consisting of seven items. Objective evaluation was performed by two plastic surgeons using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS).Results The mean age of the 49 selected patients was 9.78 years. The patients were divided into two groups according to the thickness of the silicone gel sheet used (0.3 mm vs. 1.0 mm). Objective evaluation of the patients’ scars revealed more favorable results in the 0.3 mm group than in the 1.0 mm group (P=0.010). Multivariate analysis of VSS scores indicated that the resulting scars in cases involving the trunk were of poorer quality than those involving facial areas (P=0.015). Additionally, favorable (i.e., below-average) VSS scores were significantly less likely in patients with longer scars (odds ratio, 0.896; 95% confidence interval, 0.834–0.963; P=0.003) or thicker silicone sheets (odds ratio, 0.085; 95% confidence interval, 0.011–0.699; P=0.019).Conclusions The use of thinner silicone gel sheets in children and adolescents resulted in better scars according to subjective evaluations, underscoring the importance of compliance in pediatric patients. The type of operation and surgical lesion should also be considered when planning the management of surgical scars.