Prospective Evaluation of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment of Mature Burn Scars.

Authors

Sigrid A. Blome-Eberwein MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Christina C. Gogal BS, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Michael J. Weiss MPH, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Deborah Boorse RN, CNP, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Patrick Pagella MSN, ARNP, BSN, RN, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow

Publication/Presentation Date

11-1-2016

Abstract

The authors conducted a prospective study of fractional CO2 laser treatment of mature burn scars, comparing objective and subjective scar measurements evaluating at least one treatment and one control scar on the same patient pre- and post treatments. After institutional review board approval, burn survivors with mature blatant burn scars were invited to enter the study. A series of three fractional CO2 laser treatments was performed in an office setting, using topical anesthetic cream, at 40 to 90 mJ, 100 to 150 spots per cm. Subjective and objective measurements of scar physiology and appearance were performed before and at least 1 month after the treatment series on both the treated and the control scar. A total of 80 scars, 48 treatment and 32 control scars, were included in the study. Treatment pain score averaged at 4.7/10 during and at 2.4/10 5 minutes after the treatment. All treated scars showed improvement. Objectively measured thickness, sensation, erythema, and pigmentation improved significantly in the treated scars (P = .001, .001, .004, and .001). Elasticity improved, but without statistical significance. Vancouver scar scale assessments by an independent observer improved from 8 to 6; patient self-reported pain and pruritus remained unchanged in both groups. Fractional CO2 laser treatment is a promising entity in the treatment of burn scars. Our study results show significant differences in objective measurements between the treated scars and the untreated control scars over the same time period. In scar treatment studies, the patient/observer and Vancouver scar scales may not be sensitive enough to detect outcome differences.

Volume

37

Issue

6

First Page

379

Last Page

387

ISSN

1559-0488

Published In/Presented At

Blome-Eberwein, S., Gogal, C., Weiss, M. J., Boorse, D., & Pagella, P. (2016). Prospective Evaluation of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment of Mature Burn Scars. Journal Of Burn Care & Research: Official Publication Of The American Burn Association, 37(6), 379-387.

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Medical Specialties | Surgery

PubMedID

27828835

Department(s)

Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery Faculty, Patient Care Services / Nursing, Patient Care Services / Nursing Faculty

Document Type

Article