Efficacy Of Silicone Gel In Reducing Scar Formation After Hypospadias Repair: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital disorders of the urogenital system that is repaired by surgical method. Literature review shows that silicone gel is effective in preventing and improving hypertrophic scars after surgery. Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of silicone gel on scar reduction after surgical repair of hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 64 patients who had undergone surgical repair of hypospadias were divided into two groups: 32 patients in the intervention group (silicone gel) and 32 in the control group (placebo). Then, the patients in the silicone gel treatment group were treated twice per day for two months on the site of surgical wound, and the patients in the control group were treated with Vaseline twice per day for two months on the site of surgical wound, too. Scar characteristics (pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and height) were recorded based on Vancouver’s scars scale. Finally, the results of the two treatments on reduction of scars after surgical repair were compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS-24. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups in scar characteristics after surgical repair of hypospadias, such as vascularity, pliability, and height (P˂0.05); however, there was no significant difference in pigmentation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that silicone gel had considerable effects on reduction of scars after surgical repair of hypospadias. However, further studies with larger sample size are recommended to confirm our conclusion.