***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Topical silicone gel sheeting and intralesional steroids are the only evidence -based recommendable forms of treatment to control the quality of a scar . The advantages and disadvantages of both are well known . This study was undertaken to verify the efficacy of a new topical silicone treatment : a self-drying spreadable gel that needs no means of fixation and can not be seen because of complete transparency . Fresh surgical scars treated with the tested product showed significantly better outcomes than those untreated in a prospect i ve trial involving a group of 160 patients .  Patient compliance was particularly good , especially for scars on exposed areas such as the face , where the traditional gel sheeting is frequently discontinued at an early stage by patients who object to its visibility . The results of the self-drying silicone gel have indeed been satisfactory . Considering the effective results obtained and the good patient compliance , the authors currently rate this concept of treatment as the first choice for preventing hypertrophy of recent scars Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of antibiotic-impregnated fibrin sealant ( AFS ) was effective in preventing surgical site infections ( SSI ) associated with spinal instrumentation . Methods In a preliminary study , five pieces of vancomycin-impregnated fibrin sealant , five nuts that were not treated with the sealant , and five nuts that were treated with the sealant were subjected to agar diffusion testing . In a clinical study , the rates of deep SSI were compared between 188 patients who underwent procedures involving spinal instrumentation without AFS ( group 1 ) and 196 patients who underwent procedures involving spinal instrumentation with AFS ( group 2 ) . Results All five pieces of vancomycin-impregnated fibrin sealant and the five nuts treated with the sealant exhibited antimicrobial efficacy , while the five untreated nuts did not exhibit antimicrobial efficacy in the agar diffusion test . In the clinical study , 11 ( 5.8 % ) of the 188 patients in group 1 acquired a deep SSI , while none ( 0 % ) of the 196 patients in group 2 acquired a deep SSI . Conclusion The present study demonstrated that the application of AFS to spinal instrumentation yielded good clinical outcomes in terms of the prevention of postoperative spinal infections . It is hoped that limiting AFS use to patients requiring spinal instrumentation and those with risk factors for SSI will reduce the overall costs while preventing SSIs This study reports the results of a prospect i ve r and omised controlled trial that compared three non-adherent wound dressings applied to h and surgery wounds .  Paraffin-impregnated gauze ( Jelonet ) was compared with a cellulose , acetate fibre dressing coated with a petrolatum emulsion ( Adaptic ) and a polyamide net dressing impregnated with silicone gel ( Mepitel ) . The dressings were assessed for their ease of application and removal , pain on removal and wound appearance . Results from 99 patients were available for analysis . Adaptic was significantly easier to remove ( p < 0.01 ) , required less soaking ( p < 0.05 ) , was less painful to remove ( p < 0.05 ) and caused less wound maceration ( p < 0.05 ) than Jelonet , but was significantly more difficult to apply ( p < 0.05 ) . Mepitel was also easier to remove but this did not reach statistical significance . It was also more difficult to apply than Jelonet ( p < 0.05 ) . We recommend that Adaptic should be used routinely as the non-adherent dressing for incisions or traumatic wounds on the h and . The slight increased difficulty in applying the dressing is outweighed by the major advantages associated with its removal BACKGROUND Topical 2-octylcyanoacrylate tissue adhesive is an alternative to traditional devices for closing short surgical incisions . METHODS An open-label , r and omized study compared a new high-viscosity formulation of 2-octylcyanoacrylate with commercially available devices , including low-viscosity 2-octylcyanoacrylate , for epidermal closure of incisions > or = 4 cm requiring subcutaneous and /or deep-dermal suturing . RESULTS Of patients with 1 to 3 wounds , 106 were treated with high-viscosity 2-octylcyanoacrylate and 103 with commercially available devices . The day-10 rates of healing by wound were 96 % and 97 % for study versus control treatment and 97 % and 95 % for new and old 2-octylcyanoacrylate formulations versus other controls , respectively . Day-10 infection rates by wound were 4 of 145 versus 7 of 131 for study versus control treatment and 6 of 207 and 5 of 69 for new and old 2-octylcyanoacrylate versus other controls , respectively . CONCLUSIONS The new tissue adhesive formulation provides epidermal wound closure equivalent to commercially available devices with a trend to decreased incidence of wound infection Forty-five surgical wounds were closed by suture technic and then treated with either a polyethylene oxide gel ( POG ) dressing or a povidone-iodine-impregnated polyethylene oxide gel ( PVPI-POG ) dressing . In the control group with the POG dressing alone , three wound infections , representing 25 % of those patients , were encountered . In the PVPI-POG dressing group no wound infections were encountered . Wound healing , in terms of reduced inflammation and faster epidermal approximation , appeared better in the PVPI-POG dressing group The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using Leptospermum honey in a r and omised trial to reduce the incidence of wound infection after microvascular free tissue reconstruction for cancer of the head and neck . During the one-year study period 70 consecutive patients were admitted to the regional maxillofacial ward for free tissue reconstruction . Of these , 56 ( 80 % ) consented to be r and omised  and 49 ( 70 % ) were actually r and omised  , 25 into the  honey dressings group , and 24 into the conventional dressings group ( control ) . Six patients were missed when consent was required , 8 did not consent , and 7 who had given consent were missed at the r and omisation stage in theatre . Results of wound swabs were positive in 36 % of the honey group and 38 % of the control group . Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) was found in 28 % and 25 % , respectively . Of these , 38 % were deemed to require intervention .  Honey dressings were acceptable to both patients and nurses . There was a reduction ( p<0.05 ) in duration of hospital stay in the honey group ( median 12 days , IQR 10 - 21 ) compared with the control ( median 18 days , IQR 13 - 28 ) . The cost of st and ard and honey dressings was similar . This feasibility study has shown that a r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) is possible and that several hundreds of patients would be required to show a clinical benefit for honey . Further research is needed to confirm a shorter duration of hospital admission and if so , whether this is due to more rapid healing Purpose We prospect ively compared two types of dressing ( conventional gauze-based versus absorbing hydrofibre )  after primary total hip ( THA ) or knee ( TKA ) arthroplasties . Methods Eighty c and i date s for THA ( n = 40 ) or TKA ( s = 40 ) were r and omized : gauze-based versus hydrofibre absorbing ( Aquacel ® , ConvaTec ) . The two groups were comparable at baseline . Results There was a statistically significant decrease of dressing changes in the hydrofibre group ( p = 0.0006 ) . Two patients from the conventional group presented minor wound complications . Nurses ’ satisfaction was significantly higher in the hydrofibre group considering the adherence ( p = 0.04 ) and flexibility ( p = 0.03 ) . Patients experienced a higher satisfaction with respect to ease of movement ( p = 0.01 ) in the hydrofibre group . The cosmetic appearance of the scars six weeks after surgery was found to be similar between groups . Conclusions Our findings support an overall improved comfort for the patients and the medical staff by using hydrofibre dressings after primary THA and TKA . The reduction of required dressing changes was observed also A blinded r and omized clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of applying ointment to a wound  before occlusive dressing , in comparison with no ointment or sterile paraffin OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of Hydrofiber and alginate dressings used in the treatment of primary hip arthroplasty wounds . METHOD Patients were r and omised into one of two groups , receiving either a Hydrofiber or an alginate dressing . Outcome measures , assessed by daily observations , included skin damage ( erythema , blisters and skin injuries ) and the dressing 's ability to h and le exu date s. Photos of the dressing and the skin area around wounds were taken . Patients noted skin problems , discomfort at mobilisation and pain at dressing removal . RESULTS In the alginate group , there were fewer blisters in the wound area compared with the Hydrofiber group ( 7 % versus 18 % , p=0.03 ) . During dressing removal , fewer patients in the alginate group reported pain than patients in the Hydrofiber group ( 2.1 % versus 15 % , p=0.01 ) CONCLUSION We recommend the use of both dressings following total hip arthroplasty , although the alginate would be our first choice , as we found fewer blisters when using alginate dressings as opposed to Hydrofiber dressings . CONFLICT OF INTEREST None BACKGROUND : Patients who undergo colorectal surgery have up to a 30 % chance of developing a surgical site infection postoperatively . Silverlon is a silver nylon dressing design ed to prevent surgical site infections , but only anecdotal evidence has previously supported its efficacy . OBJECTIVE : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silver nylon dressings in patients undergoing colorectal surgery . DESIGN : We performed a prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial comparing a silver nylon dressing with gauze dressings in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery . SETTING : The study was performed at a university-based , tertiary referral center . PATIENTS : We studied patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with an abdominal skin incision of at least 3 cm . INTERVENTION : Patients were r and omly assigned to receive either a silver nylon or a gauze dressing . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : The primary end point was surgical site infection occurring within 30 days of surgery . RESULTS : One hundred ten patients were enrolled in the study and were r and omly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups . After a 30-day follow-up period , the incidence of surgical site infection was lower in the silver nylon group compared with the control group ( 13 % vs 33 % , P = .011 ) . Twenty-five patients in the study developed superficial surgical site infections , 5 in the silver nylon group and 14 in the control group ( P = .021 ) . Two patients in the study group developed deep wound infections compared with 4 in the control group ( P = .438 ) . Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the control group had a 3-fold increase in risk of infection compared with patients in the silver nylon group ( P = .013 ) . LIMITATIONS : A limitation of this study is that the members of the surgical team were not blinded to the treatment groups . CONCLUSION : Silver nylon is safe and effective in preventing surgical site infection following colorectal surgery BACKGROUND 4 methods are used in pediatric laparoscopic surgery to close trocar wounds . While tissue adhesives or adhesive strips have been shown to produce fewer wound complications and a better cosmetic result compared to trans- or only subcutaneous sutures , the choice of technique is still often based on the surgeon 's personal experience . Thus , the objective of this trial was to assess the impact of tissue adhesives ( Dermabond ™ ) compared to adhesive strips ( Steri-Strip ™ ) on potential complications of wound healing , wound pain , cosmetic outcome , and patient satisfaction after laparoscopic appendectomy in children . METHODS 49 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were enrolled in this prospect i ve r and omized trial . In every patient , two 5-mm and one 10-mm port-site incision was closed either with Dermabond ™ or Steri-Strip ™ after placing subcuticular absorbable sutures ( 4 - 0 Vicryl ™ ) . Postoperative complications , pain , and patient satisfaction with scars were evaluated at follow-up on day 10 and day 90 after the operation using a question naire and a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) . Photographs of scars taken on day 90 were evaluated on a VAS by 2 pediatric surgeons blinded to the closure method used . RESULTS According to the surgeons ' evaluation of the cosmetic outcome , a significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the cosmetic score was found on day 90 of follow-up , favoring Steri-Strip ™ wound closure ( p < 0.05 ) . On day 10 and 90 there were no statistical differences between the 2 methods as regards the result of patient evaluations ( p > 0.05 ) . Only one wound infection ( 4 % ) was observed in the Steri-Strip ™ group ( n = 25 ) on day 10 . At follow-up on day 90 
    Output:
    
It is uncertain whether covering surgical wounds healing by primary intention with wound dressings reduces the risk of SSI , or whether any particular wound dressing is more effective than others in reducing the risk of SSI , improving scarring , reducing pain , improving acceptability to patients , or is easier to remove .