Adding herbal extracts to silicone gel on post-sternotomy scar: a prospective randomised double-blind study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Plastic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Silicone gel is a recognized treatment for improving post-sternotomy scars.
• The potential synergistic effects of herbal extracts with silicone gel on scar healing require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a silicone gel combined with herbal extracts (Allium cepa, Centella Asiatica, Aloe vera, Paper Mulberry) in improving post-sternotomy scar healing.
• To compare the outcomes of this combination therapy against silicone gel alone.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 46 patients undergoing median sternotomy.
• Patients were assigned to two groups: one receiving silicone gel with herbal extracts, the other receiving silicone gel alone.
• Scars were assessed over six months using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and patient self-assessment.

Main Results:

• The combination group (Group 1) showed significantly lower VSS scores compared to the silicone gel only group (Group 2) at both three and six months (p=0.018 and p=0.051).
• Group 1 demonstrated significant improvements in vascularity and pigmentation scores from baseline at three and six months (p<0.05).
• Group 2 showed significant improvements in pigmentation and vascularity at six months (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Silicone gel combined with herbal extracts demonstrates a trend towards superior improvement in vascularity and pigmentation of post-sternotomy scars.
• This combination therapy may offer enhanced scar healing benefits compared to silicone gel monotherapy.