The Effects of Topical Agent (Kelo-Cote or Contractubex) Massage on the Thickness of Post-Burn Scar Tissue Formed in Rats.
10.5999/aps.2013.40.6.697
- Author:
Won Jin KO
1
;
Young Cheon NA
;
Bum Sin SUH
;
Hyeon A KIM
;
Woo Hoe HEO
;
Gum Ha CHOI
;
Seo Ul LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea. ycnadr@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Burns;
Cicatrix, hypertrophic;
Wound healing;
Massage
- MeSH:
Allantoin;
Animals;
Biopsy;
Burns;
Cicatrix*;
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic;
Drug Combinations;
Heparin;
Iron;
Massage*;
Petrolatum;
Plant Extracts;
Rats*;
Wound Healing;
Wounds and Injuries
- From:Archives of Plastic Surgery
2013;40(6):697-704
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: We conducted an experimental study to compare the effect of massage using topical agents (Kelo-cote or Contractubex) on scar formation by massaging the healed burn wound on the dorsal area of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS: Four areas of second degree contact burn were made on the dorsal area of each of 15 SD rats, using a soldering iron 15 mm in diameter. After gross epithelialization in the defect, 15 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: the Kelo-cote group, Contractubex group, Vaseline group, and control group. Rats in three of the groups (all but the Control group) were massaged twice per day for 5 minutes each day, while those in the Control group were left unattended. For histologic analysis, we performed a biopsy and evaluated the thickness of scar tissue. RESULTS: In the Kelo-cote and Contractubex groups, scar tissue thicknesses showed a significant decrease, compared with the Vaseline and control groups. However, no significant differences were observed between the Kelo-cote and Contractubex groups. In the Vaseline group, scar tissue thicknesses showed a significant decrease, compared with the control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that massage using a topical agent is helpful in the prevention of scar formation and that massage only with lubricant (no use of a topical agent) also has a considerable effect, although not as much as the use of a topical agent. Thus, we recommend massage with a topical agent on the post-burn scar as an effective method for decreasing the scar thickness.
