Aj. Thurston, SAFETY OF SILICONE LIQUID IN THE POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF DUPUYTRENS CONTRACTURE, Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery, 67(6), 1997, pp. 347-350
Background: Recently the New Zealand Department of Health expressed co
ncerns about the safety of applying silicones to open wounds and banne
d their use. For 30 years silicone liquid has been used for the manage
ment and rehabilitation of the injured hand. It has been reported that
the application of silicone fluids to the skin and ordinary handling
over a period of years of various methyl and phenyl polymers by labora
tory workers caused no skin disorders or sensitization, nor was absorp
tion observed. There are no reports in the literature of the safety of
the use of silicones applied to open wounds. Methods: In the present
study, 116 hands that had been mobilized in silicone liquid following
surgery for Dupuytren's contracture over the last 12 years were review
ed. In the cases of 64 hands, the patients could be traced and contact
ed, and 47 patients (hands) agreed to attend for a clinical review. Th
e hands were examined for areas of inflammation, granuloma formation a
nd abnormal scar formation. Results: No patient showed any evidence of
adverse effects from the use of silicone liquid. Conclusions: There i
s no evidence that the use of silicone liquid, in contact with open wo
unds of the hands, for the mobilization of the hand following surgery
for Dupuytren's contracture has any of the adverse effects reported as
being associated with implanted silicone prostheses.