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What is scar contracture? NewGel+ Australia
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What is scar contracture?

Scarring is the body’s response to trauma and is a part of the natural healing process. There are different types of scars depending on the cause and severity of injury. Scars produced from minor cuts and scrapes will fade gradually over time. However, wounds caused by serious accidents, burns, and surgery can often lead to abnormal scar formation, such as keloids and hypertrophic scars. Both of these scar types are raised and discolored, but they typically do not cause physical dysfunction. Then, there are scar contractures, which are known to cause dysfunction, deformity, and even psychological trauma. Keep reading to learn more about exactly what scar contractures are and what you can do to help them heal.

WHAT IS SCAR CONTRACTURE?

Scar con­tracture is a process that occurs due to an exacerbated wound healing response. To understand why scar contracture occurs, you must understand the four phases of the wound healing process.

The first phase of the wound healing process, hemostasis, simply means a clot is formed or a surgical incision is sealed in order to stop the flow of blood. Next is the inflammatory stage, which is triggered by the injury and leads to the aggregation of immune system mediators and other beneficial components that begin to repair the damage.

Then, the proliferative stage begins with fibroblast activation. Fibroblasts are a type of cell found in connective tissue that produce collagen, the protein that gives your skin strength, firmness, and durability. Another type of cell involved in this phase are myofibroblasts, which have been found to play an essential role in the formation of scar contracture. A myofibroblast can be thought of as a mix between a fibroblast and a muscle cell. Their function is to contract the wound and promote the formation of new collagen to seal the wound.

The final phase of wound healing is matrix remodeling, which also includes scar tissue remodeling. During this stage, the persistent activation of myofibroblasts is one of the major factors that contributes to the formation of scar contracture. This will typically appear as a fixed, rigid scar that is confined to the area of trauma. The skin will feel tight and constricted, which can lead to permanent physical deformities and functional limitations.

SCAR CONTRACTURE AFTER SURGERY

Surgery is one of the main causes of scar contracture, especially when the surgery is on a joint. According to Dr. David A. Sherris, M.D., the avoidance of scar con­tractures starts with careful planning of the surgical in­cision. He explains, “Incisions that are placed parallel to relaxed skin tension lines or that may have irregular angles are more likely to heal in a satisfactory manner without func­tional or cosmetic problems.”

SCAR CONTRACTURE AFTER BURN INJURIES

Burn scar contracture refers to the tightening of the skin after a second or third degree burn. As the affected area is healing, the surrounding skin pulls together, resulting in a contracture. Unfortunately, scar contracture after burn injuries is fairly common. A 2013 study found that 620 of the 1865 analyzed adult burn patients developed at least one joint contracture, which meant 33 percent of patients had dysfunction in their joints after burn injuries.

SCAR CONTRACTURE TREATMENT

Scar contracture must be treated as soon as possible since this type of scarring can result in restriction of movement around the injured area. According to a report in Burns & Trauma, the management of the scar contracture can include one or a combination of the following treatment options:

  • Silicone-based products
  • Pressure therapy
  • Splinting
  • Lasers
  • Radiation
  • Surgical intervention

Treatment will typically begin with non-invasive methods (silicone products, pressure therapy, or splinting), saving the invasive options for scar contractures that fail to respond. Out of these three non-invasive treatment options, silicone-based products have the most clinical evidence for improving scar appearance. The use of silicone gel sheeting for the treatment of scars in burn patients was first described by Perkins and Wallis in 1983. Since that time, numerous studies have been published demonstrating the improved appearance of scars following the application of silicone gel sheeting.

HOW NEWGEL+ CAN HELP

NewGel+ is specially formulated 100% medical grade silicone gel sheeting proven to reduce, flatten, fade and smooth scars – both old and new. It is self-adhesive and worn directly on the scar. Silicone sheeting improves scars by providing a combination of occlusion (seals the scar from exposure to air), hydration, elevated skin temperature, and continuous light pressure.

Although silicone sheeting is considered the first choice for scar management, NewGel+ has many additional types of silicone-based products, such as strips, shapes, and two tube sizes of topical silicone gel. For instance, many patients prefer to use the NewGel+E topical silicone gel when sheeting would be inconvenient, hard to secure or unsightly.

Whether you have a scar contracture or any other type of scar, NewGel+ has the perfect scar treatment product for you!

Trust NewGel+ to soften, flatten, and fade your scar. 

☎️1300 294 649 📧sales@surgsa.com.au 👍Supplying medical products to the healthcare market

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