Early Postoperative Prevention and Treatment of Median Sternotomy Scars With Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection

Linear hypertrophic scar is a common surgical problem that can be difficult to manage, especially for the median sternotomy scar. Despite high demand for the early intervention to prevent and treat surgical scars, there is yet no universal consensus on satisfactory treatment. Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin that has been widely and safely used in medicine for more than 30 years. It induces chemodenervation through acting on the presynaptic neuron to prevent release of acetylcholine, which leads to functional denervation of striated muscle for about 6 months after injection. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of Botulinum toxin type A as a prophylactic treatment in the early postoperative of median sternotomy for the purpose of preventing excess scar formation.