EFFICACY OF MICROPOROUS TAPE IN THE PREVENTION OF ABNORMAL POST-SURGICAL SCARS AMONG A BLACK POPULATION

Authors

  • Oluwatosin Stephen Ilori LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
  • Ayodeji Olarewaju Oladele Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile- Ife
  • Oluwatosin Ruth Ilori College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
  • David A. Onilede Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa state.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55519/JAMC-02-10071

Keywords:

Microporous tape, abnormal scars, prevention, black population

Abstract

Background: A scar can be defined as a mark or a blemish resulting from a healed wound. All surgical incisions give rise to scars and approximately 15% have excessive scars. Some scars are thin lines which are almost unnoticeable, whereas others become abnormal when the amount of fibrosis is excessive or suboptimal or when it causes functional disability or aesthetic distress to the patient. The conversion of normal scarring to hypertrophic scarring occurs six to eight weeks after surgery as a result of increasing scar tension. Thus, scar support especially with the use of microporous tape is critical during this period. Objectives were to determine the efficacy of microporous tape in the prevention of abnormal post-surgical scars. Methods: A randomized control study which compared the limb scar outcome between post-surgical patients who underwent scar taping with microporous tape and those who did not. The scars were assessed at six weeks, three months and six months after surgery using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. The test group had microporous tape applied to their scars over a period of six months and worn twenty-four hours daily. The tapes were changed every fortnight or whenever they fell off. The data was analyzed using SPSS-22. The categorical variables, the relative scar height, the scar width and the OSAS score were compared using the Chi-square test and the independent t-test respectively.  Results: At six weeks, 48.8% of non-taped scars and 97.6% of taped scars were normal; at three months 75.6% of non-taped scars and 2.4% of taped scars were abnormal while at 6 months 80.5% of non-taped scars and none of the taped scars were abnormal. Conclusion: Microporous tape is an effective modality for preventing abnormal scarring in post-surgical patients.

Author Biographies

Oluwatosin Stephen Ilori, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon Department of Surgery LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso

Ayodeji Olarewaju Oladele, Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile- Ife

Associate Professor College of Health Sciences Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State

Oluwatosin Ruth Ilori, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Consultant Public Health Physician Department of Community Medicine Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

David A. Onilede, Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa state.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon Department of Surgery  Federal Medical Centre Keffi

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Published

2022-03-03

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 2 (2022): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDCIAL COLLEGE ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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