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Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT02623829
Other study ID # GCO 15-1093
Secondary ID
Status Completed
Phase Phase 2
First received
Last updated
Start date December 1, 2015
Est. completion date March 1, 2019

Study information

Verified date November 2020
Source Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Dermatological surgeons wear many hats to care for subjects with skin cancer. While their role in cancerous tissue removal results in superior cure rates, there is also a need for skilled excisional repair and effective wound healing regimens so the subject can heal with the least amount of scarring necessary. As such, numerous techniques have been developed for reducing the morbidity associated with excessive scarring. Various flaps and grafts allow the surgeon to approximate skin texture, thickness and adnexa with respect to the residual surrounding tissue. Optimal cosmetic and functional outcomes require close wound approximation with minimal static tension along the wound edge. In addition, there are post-operative wound care techniques that range from special dressings to cosmetic scar modification. To date, most surgical wounds are allowed to heal at least partially before scar revision or modulation is attempted. Botulinum toxin presents a unique opportunity for surgeons to affect scar formation throughout the duration of the healing process. These effects are likely independent and adjunctive to any and all wound care techniques, and are primarily attributed to a reduction in dynamic tension on the wound edges. Most importantly, botulinum toxin's one time dosing requirements with respect to reduced scar formation precludes the variance inherent to standard wound care practices. Therefore, it has been proposed that for selected subjects, botulinum toxin may be a safe, effective and reliable means for improved post-excisional repair outcomes. Botulinum toxin has been investigated as an inhibitor of excessive, post-excisional scar formation in plastic surgery and Otorhinolaryngology literature. However, these promising studies have yet to combine objective assessment measures of human scar formation in a randomized controlled trial. In addition, there are currently no formal studies of botulinum toxin as a prophylactic against excess scarring in the dermatological literature. Fortunately, Botulinum toxin dosing in the forehead for the purposes of inhibiting excessive scar formation is comparable to the amount given for cosmetic purposes, which is commonplace in dermatology and well-studied.


Description:

This study will attempt to assess the efficacy of Botulinum toxin as a prophylactic treatment in post-excisional repairs for the purpose of preventing excess scar formation. The end points will be the evaluation of each scar using the Manchester Scar Scale. All MSS and mMSS assessments will be performed in a standardized fashion. The mMSS assessments will be blinded and performed by board-certified dermatologists in the Department of Dermatology, Faculty Practice Associates, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 42
Est. completion date March 1, 2019
Est. primary completion date March 1, 2019
Accepts healthy volunteers Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Gender All
Age group 18 Years and older
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: - English-speaking adults at least 18 years old. - Subjects must be scheduled for an excision of forehead skin due to any etiology, with a same day, single stage closure planned as the most likely surgical repair. - Subjects must be able to read, sign, and understand the informed consent. - Subject is willing and able to participate in the study as an outpatient, making several visits to the study center during the treatment and follow-up periods and to comply with all study requirements including concomitant medication and other treatment restrictions. - If subject is a female of childbearing potential she must have a negative urine pregnancy test result prior to study treatment initiation and must agree to use an approved method of birth control while enrolled in the study. Exclusion Criteria: - Subjects with an unstable medical condition as deemed by the clinical investigator, including review of the subject's prior and current medications. - Subjects with Myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton Syndrome or other neuromuscular disorder. - Subjects taking medications that may alter the function of neuromuscular junctions (i.e. aminoglycoside antibiotics) - Women who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study period. - Subjects who have a history of keloids. - Known allergy to botulinum toxin. - Subjects who are not able to be closed with a same day, single stage technique.

Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms

  • Cicatrix
  • Post-operative Excessive Scarring

Intervention

Drug:
Botulinum Toxin
50 units of botulinum toxin diluted in 1ml of normal saline will be administered.
Saline
1ml of normal saline will be administered

Locations

Country Name City State
United States Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinia New York New York

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Allergan

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (11)

Beausang E, Floyd H, Dunn KW, Orton CI, Ferguson MW. A new quantitative scale for clinical scar assessment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998 Nov;102(6):1954-61. — View Citation

Carruthers A, Carruthers J, Cohen J. A prospective, double-blind, randomized, parallel- group, dose-ranging study of botulinum toxin type a in female subjects with horizontal forehead rhytides. Dermatol Surg. 2003 May;29(5):461-7. — View Citation

Carruthers J, Fagien S, Matarasso SL; Botox Consensus Group. Consensus recommendations on the use of botulinum toxin type a in facial aesthetics. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004 Nov;114(6 Suppl):1S-22S. Review. — View Citation

Duncan JA, Bond JS, Mason T, Ludlow A, Cridland P, O'Kane S, Ferguson MW. Visual analogue scale scoring and ranking: a suitable and sensitive method for assessing scar quality? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006 Sep 15;118(4):909-18. — View Citation

Durani P, McGrouther DA, Ferguson MW. Current scales for assessing human scarring: a review. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 Jun;62(6):713-20. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2009.01.080. Epub 2009 Mar 20. Review. — View Citation

Gassner HG, Brissett AE, Otley CC, Boahene DK, Boggust AJ, Weaver AL, Sherris DA. Botulinum toxin to improve facial wound healing: A prospective, blinded, placebo-controlled study. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Aug;81(8):1023-8. — View Citation

Gassner HG, Sherris DA, Friedman O. Botulinum toxin-induced immobilization of lower facial wounds. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Mar-Apr;11(2):140-2. doi: 10.1001/archfacial.2009.3. — View Citation

Gassner HG, Sherris DA, Otley CC. Treatment of facial wounds with botulinum toxin A improves cosmetic outcome in primates. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 May;105(6):1948-53; discussion 1954-5. — View Citation

Jablonka EM, Sherris DA, Gassner HG. Botulinum toxin to minimize facial scarring. Facial Plast Surg. 2012 Oct;28(5):525-35. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1325641. Epub 2012 Oct 1. — View Citation

Sherris DA, Gassner HG. Botulinum toxin to minimize facial scarring. Facial Plast Surg. 2002 Feb;18(1):35-9. — View Citation

Zimbler MS, Nassif PS. Adjunctive applications for botulinum toxin in facial aesthetic surgery. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2003 Nov;11(4):477-82. Review. — View Citation

* Note: There are 11 references in allClick here to view all references

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Modified Manchester Scar Scale (MMSS) Score MMSS scores range 5-18, higher score indicates poorer health outcomes. The MMSS assesses color, texture, distortion and contour of the scar. 6 months
Secondary Visual Analog Scar Scale Visual Analog Scar Scale (VASS), full score range 0-10 higher score indicates poorer health outcomes 6 months
Secondary Scar Width Scar width at 6 months after treatment 6 months