Silicone Taping for the Improvement of Abdominal Donor Site Scars Following Autologous Breast Reconstruction; A Randomized, Prospective Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether silicone tape can improve the appearance of abdominal scars after abdominoplasty procedures performed as part of breast reconstruction. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial compares silicone tape applied to one half of the incision with no dressing on the other half, which is the current standard care. The study includes adults undergoing autologous free-flap breast reconstruction and aims to determine if silicone tape enhances scar quality over time. Participants will receive silicone tape on one half of their abdominoplasty incision starting two weeks after surgery, applying it daily for two and a half months. The other half of the incision will receive no dressing. Patients will remove the tape for showers and reapply it after drying. Each patient acts as their own control, and the side receiving tape is randomly chosen. Masking is maintained for the surgeon assessing the scars, with patients removing dressings a day before assessments. Participants will be followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Scar assessments are done by both patients and masked surgeons using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS & OSAS), which evaluates factors like color, thickness, pain, pigmentation, and vascularity. Research coordinators will address questions at each visit. The primary outcome is the OSAS scar score sum, with secondary outcomes including the PSAS score and overall ratings from both patient and surgeon.

Silicone Taping for the Improvement of Abdominal Donor Site Scars