Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39681687›Full record

Trial reportAesthetic plastic surgery2025

The Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Prevention of Hypertrophic Scars After Epicanthoplasty: A Split-Face Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Dandan Liu, Yanting Ou, Lin Luo, Mengfan Wu, Yihan Zhang, Luotai Chen, Zhuolin Liu, Tingyin Lin, Xiangwen Xu, Yongyan Cui

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Dandan Liu *Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Yanting Ou *Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Lin LuoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Mengfan WuDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Yihan ZhangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Luotai ChenDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Zhuolin LiuDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Tingyin LinDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China.
Xiangwen XuDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China. drxuxiangwen@163.com.
Yongyan CuiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China. cyy8188@163.com.ORCID 0000-0003-1400-1218

Funding

Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research Foundation A2023237National Nature Science Foundation of China 82302810Natural Science Foundation from Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission JCYJ20210324105412033Natural Science Foundation from Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission JCYJ20220531094004010Peking University Shenzhen Hospital Research Project Fund LCYJ2020008Peking University Shenzhen Hospital Research Project Fund LCYJ2022015Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline Construction Fund SZXK026
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTimely intervention can improve the aesthetic outcome of surgical scars, and botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) has demonstrated its potential as an effective treatment. However, conclusive scientific evidence is needed to definitively confirm the specific efficacy of BTXA following epicanthoplasty.

methodsA total of 21 patients who underwent epicanthoplasty were enrolled. Either BTXA or normal saline was randomly injected into the left or right epicanthus immediately after epicanthoplasty. The efficacy of scar prevention was assessed at a 1-month and 6-month follow-up visit using various assessment scales, and scar widths were also measured. The safety assessment included evaluating the complications and adverse effects after injections.

resultsTotally, 20 patients completed the entire follow-up period. At 6-month follow-up, significant improvements were noted (P<0.05) in the treatment group compared to the control group across all evaluated metrics: the Modified Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (total scores: 6.73±1.26 vs 5.75±1.60), Observer Scar Assessment Scale (total scores: 6.35±5.93 vs 8.55±5.65), Patient Scar Assessment Scale (color scores: 1.10±1.17 vs 1.85±1.69), Visual Analog Scale (total scores: 8.48±1.24 vs 7.94±1.37), and the average scar widths (0.37±0.18mm vs 0.68±0.42mm). No adverse effects were observed.

conclusionsBTXA can effectively prevent scar hyperplasia after epicanthoplasty, especially in improving scar pigmentation, width, and softness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

Botulinum Toxins, Type ACicatrix, HypertrophicAdolescentAdultDouble-Blind MethodEstheticsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleNeuromuscular AgentsRisk AssessmentTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular AgentsBotulinum toxin type AEpicanthoplastyHypertrophic scarRCT

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.