Burn and skin specialists in collaboration with researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Shriners Hospitals for Children–Cincinnati, have demonstrated that application of a pulsed-dye laser tool enhances texture, appearance, and elasticity of burn scars.
The study was published online prior to being released in the journal Dermatological Surgery. The application of the pulsed-dye laser and compression therapy on scars was studied in contrast with compression therapy for pediatric burn patients.
UC burn surgery researcher and Lead author, J. Kevin Bailey said that the laser has demonstrated a proven efficiency for the first time in treatment of scars. Despite the recent improvement in survival from severe burns, several treatment options have been employed for removal of scars without any clearly defined technique. Burn specialists depended on clinical expertise and judgment for evaluating treatments such as the pulsed-dye laser.
The study was conducted on pediatric patients who were experiencing burn scar reconstruction using newly healed skin grafts. Patients undergoing compression therapy along the length of the graft had laser treatments applied to one half of their graft seam by researchers, at an interval period of six-weeks.
The researchers then evaluated the areas being treated using high-resolution digital photography, evaluation of the scar’s elasticity, 3-D laser surface scanning of topography and standardized evaluation of biomechanical properties.
The percentage of pixels indicating redness in the image was counted with the help of the digital photographs. Using 3-D tomography, the difference in height of the scar was measured at each new treatment.
Combined laser and compression therapy led to improvement in each phase of skin health.