The prophylactic use of a topical scar gel containing extract of Allium cepae, allantoin, and heparin improves symptoms and appearance of cesarean-section scars compared with untreated scars.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Abdominal Cesarean sections (C-sections) are frequently associated with an increased risk of excessive or unpleasant scarring. A topical scar gel containing extract of Allium cepae, allantoin and heparin (Contractubex®; Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Germany), has shown efficacy in improving the appearance of various scar types.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the efficacy of the topical scar gel, Contractubex, in the early treatment of C-section scars.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

A total of 61 females, aged ≥18 years, who had given birth by elective C-section for the first time within the last 5-10 days, were included in this prospective, randomized, single-center study. Patients were advised to apply the topical scar gel twice daily (treatment group), or received no treatment (control group). Efficacy was evaluated at 6 and 12 weeks after a baseline visit using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a validated scar assessment tool comprised of a Patient Scale and an Observer Scale.

RESULTS:

Analysis revealed a significant change in the POSAS Patient Scale total score, with a 14.2% improvement in the treatment group compared with a decline of similar magnitude (-14.8%) in the control group at week 6. Significant improvements were also seen for POSAS Patient Scale sub-items in the treatment group compared with the control group for scar color (13.6% vs -18.5%, respectively, P=0.0284), stiffness (12.5% vs -34.6%, respectively, P=0.0029), and irregularity (29.4% vs -46.2%, respectively, P=0.0140) after 6 weeks of treatment. No significant changes were observed for the POSAS Observer Scale total score or its subitems after treatment with the topical scar gel, although there was a strong overall trend in favor of the treatment group. No significant adverse events were observed during the study.

CONCLUSION:

Contractubex represents an efficacious and well-tolerated preventative treatment that rapidly and significantly improves the color, stiffness and irregularity of C-section scars.

• Authors: Jorge Ocampo-Candiani, Osvaldo T Vázquez-Martínez, José Luis Iglesias Benavides, Kristin Buske, Annette Lehn, Clemens Acker
• Journal: Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD (J Drugs Dermatol) Vol. 13 Issue 2 Pg. 176-82 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1545-9616 [Print] United States
• PMID: 24509969 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Gels
• Plant Extracts
• allantoin, heparin, onion extract drug combination
• Allantoin
• Heparin

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Allantoin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cesarean Section (adverse effects)
• Cicatrix (etiology, prevention & control)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Gels
• Heparin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pregnancy
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult