COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TOPICAL HEPARIN AND ALLANTOIN GEL WITH SILICONE GEL IN THE REDUCTION OF POST-SURGICAL SCARS IN THE MAXILLOFACIAL REGION - A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Excessive Scars such as hypertrophic or keloid scars are frequently the result of dermal tissue proliferating after a skin injury. Patients experience functional and psychological issues from them, and managing them can be challenging.

Aim: To assess the comparative effect on topical Allantoin and heparin gel with that of the silicone gel in the reduction of post surgical scars in maxillofacial region. 

Methods: This study was conducted amongst twenty patients, divided into two groups (n=10). Patients in each Group I received heparin + allantoin gel and Group II included patients receiving topical silicone gel. The scar appearance was evaluated prior to starting the intervention and at the end of three months using Vancouver scar scale. The statistics were analysed using the chi-square and Student t tests.

Results: Patients who were included in the silicone group had lower scarring scores according to the Vancouver scale when compared to patients who were given heparin + Allantoin gel, and were statistically significant (p value < 0.05). The response to the treatment was also significantly greater in Group II.

Conclusion: Post surgical scar scores were reduced significantly in patients using silicone gels that those with the heparin-allantoin gel. However, the method of scar reduction differs from each patient and the surgeon. Hence, it must be tailored according to the type of scar and the requirements of the patient.