Polynucleotide (PN) provides a structural scaffold to induce anti‐inflammatory and enhanced wound healing properties, and this study aimed to assess the efficacy of PN administration in the prevention of post‐operative scars after conventional open total thyroidectomy.
Study Design Materials and Methods
Forty‐two patients with thyroid carcinoma who underwent total thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to the study (PN administration) or control (normal saline) group. All patients underwent a single session of combined ablative and non‐ablative fractional laser. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), global photographic assessment, and objective scar were assessed using three‐dimensional (3D) camera at baseline and at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks after surgery.
Results
Patients who underwent PN injection demonstrated better surgical scar quality outcome. Participants in the PN administration group had lower VSS scores than the control group (2.09 ± 0.47 vs. 4.01 ± 0.55, respectively) and lower scar height (0.23 ± 0.03 vs. 0.29 ± 0.03, respectively), as measured using 3D imaging. Furthermore, in the PN injected group, the degree of erythema, and pigmentation of the scar were less prominent. No patient developed hypertrophic scar or keloids on the surgical site. No other adverse events, including post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation, scarring, or infection, were observed.