Safety of silicone liquid in the postoperative management of Dupuytren's contracture

Background: Recently the New Zealand Department of Health expressed concerns about the safety of applying silicones to open wounds and banned their use. For 30 years silicone liquid has been used for the management 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 laboratory workers caused no skin disorders or sensitization, nor was absorption 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 reviewed. In the cases of 64 hands, the patients could be traced and contacted, and 47 patients (hands) agreed to attend for a clinical review. The hands were examined for areas of inflammation, granuloma formation and abnormal scar formation. Results: No patient showed any evidence of adverse effects from the use of silicone liquid. Conclusions: There is no evidence that the use of silicone liquid, in contact with open wounds 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.