Correlation between dermal thickness and scar formation in female patients after thyroidectomy

• Published in: Archives of craniofacial surgery Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 120 - 126
• Main Authors: Kim, Hong Il, Kwak, Chan Yee, Kim, Hyo Young, Yi, Hyung Suk, Park, Eun Ju, Kim, Jeong Hoon, Park, Jin Hyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association 01.06.2018; 대한두개안면성형외과학회
• Subjects: Original; 성형외과학; Hypertrophic cicatrix; Skinfold thickness
• ISSN: 2287-1152; 2287-5603
• DOI: 10.7181/acfs.2018.01907

Minimizing scarring has long been a challenge in plastic surgery. Factors affecting scar formation are well known, but the effect of some patient-specific factors such as dermal thickness remains unverified. Management of factors predictive of scarring can improve postoperative patient satisfaction and scar treatment. For 3 years, we used ultrasonography to measure dermal thickness in female patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for cancer at our hospital. We confirmed the influence of dermal thickness on hypertrophic scar formation and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scar score 6 months after surgery. There was a positive correlation between dermal thickness and scar score (p<0.05), and dermal thickness appears to be a cause of hypertrophic scar formation (p<0.05). Thick dermis was found to cause poor scar formation and hypertrophic scarring. Prediction of factors that can influence scar formation can be used to educate patients before surgery and can help in scar management and improvement in patient satisfaction.