Efficacy in Preventing Hypertrophic Scars: A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Chitosan Cream, Silicone Gel & Olive Oil

NCT ID: NCT07269093

Last Updated: 2026-01-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-21

Study Completion Date

2026-11-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of three different topical applications in preventing hypertrophic scars in adults with scars healed after suturing. The main question it aims to answer is: Is Chitosan cream effective in preventing hypertrophic scars?

Researchers will compare Chitosan cream with silicone gel and olive oil to see if there is any difference in their efficacies.

Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups, with each group using a different topical application. They will be instructed to:

* apply the topical application on their scar twice a day for 8 weeks
* attend follow-up visits at 4, 12 and 24 weeks for a doctor to assess their scar and take clinical photographs
* immediately inform the researcher if they experience any side effects

Detailed Description

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This is a 3-arm single-blinded randomised controlled trial to study the efficacy of three topical applications in preventing hypertrophic scars. The general objective is to investigate the efficacy of Chitosan cream in preventing hypertrophic scars compared to other topical applications commonly used; silicone gel and olive oil. The hypothesis is that Chitosan cream shows comparable efficacy in preventing hypertrophic scars compared to silicone gel and olive oil.

The study population consists of patients who had traumatic or surgical scars that have healed by primary intention in the Unit of Reconstructive Sciences, Hospital Pakar USM, Plastic \& Reconstructive Surgery Unit of Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II and the Plastic \& Reconstructive Surgery Department of Hospital Kuala Lumpur and have met the study inclusion criteria.

Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be given a topical application (Chitosan cream / silicone gel / olive oil) which is assigned randomly by computer software (SPSS version 29). The topical applications is to be applied twice daily from the 14th day since wounding. The investigator will be blinded to the topical application given to the patient. Both patient and investigator will assess the scar using Patient \& Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) version 3.0 and scars will be photographed under fixed camera settings \& lighting conditions. Patients will come for follow-up on weeks 4, 12 \& 24 and the scar assessment will be repeated by both patient \& the same observer. Serial photographs will also be taken each visit. At the end of the 24 weeks, photographs of the scars will be reviewed by three independent plastic surgeons and scored using the Scar Cosmesis \& Assessment Rating (SCAR) Scale. Both the scores from the clinical \& photographic scar assessments will be evaluated to compare the efficacy of each topical application. The duration of the study is from Nov 2025-Nov 2026.

Conditions

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Hypertrophic Scars

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Silicone gel

Silicone gel application twice a day for 8 weeks

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Silicone Gel

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of silicone gel twice a day for 8 weeks

Chitosan cream

Chitosan cream application twice a day for 8 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Chitosan cream

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of Chitosan cream twice daily for 8 weeks

Olive oil

Olive oil application twice a day for 8 weeks

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Olive Oil Topical Oil

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of olive oil twice daily for 8 weeks

Interventions

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Chitosan cream

Application of Chitosan cream twice daily for 8 weeks

Intervention Type DEVICE

Silicone Gel

Application of silicone gel twice a day for 8 weeks

Intervention Type DEVICE

Olive Oil Topical Oil

Application of olive oil twice daily for 8 weeks

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with traumatic or surgical wounds which have healed by primary intention within 14 days
* Length of scar at least 3cm

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with seafood allergy
* Patients with scar from wounds that were complicated by infection or wound breakdown
* Patients who have undergone scar treatment by other modalities
* Patients with history of keloids / hypertrophic scars
* Pregnant patients
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Universiti Sains Malaysia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Esther Tan Hui Min

Dr

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II

Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia

Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Site Status RECRUITING

Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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Malaysia

Central Contacts

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Esther HM Tan, MBBS

Role: CONTACT

+6097673000

Facility Contacts

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Esther HM Tan, MBBS

Role: primary

+6097673000

References

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Kantor J. Reliability and Photographic Equivalency of the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) Scale, an Outcome Measure for Postoperative Scars. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Jan 1;153(1):55-60. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.3757.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27806156 (View on PubMed)

Carriere ME, Mokkink LB, Tyack Z, Westerman MJ, Pijpe A, Pleat J, van de Kar AL, Brown J, de Vet HCW, van Zuijlen PPM. Development of the Patient Scale of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) 3.0: a qualitative study. Qual Life Res. 2023 Feb;32(2):583-592. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03244-6. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36355319 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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USM/JEPeM/KK/25060539

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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