How to assess scar hypertrophy--a comparison of subjective scales and Spectrocutometry: a new objective method

Scar hypertrophy is a significant clinical problem involving both linear scars from elective surgery and scars caused by trauma or burns. The treatment of hypertrophic scars is often time consuming, and patients may need to be followed up for months or even years. The methods for reliable quantification of scar hypertrophy are at present unsatisfying. We have developed a new, objective method, Spectrocutometry, for documentation and quantification of scar hypertrophy. The instrument is based on standardized digital imaging and spectral modeling and calculates the estimated concentration change of hemoglobin and melanin from the entire scar and also provides standardized images for documentation. Three plastic surgeons have assessed 37 scars from melanoma surgery using Spectrocutometry, the Vancouver scar scale, and the patient and observer scar assessment scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the Vancouver scar scale and the patient and observer scar assessment scale was lower than required for reliable assessment (r=0.66 and 0.60, respectively). The intraclass correlation coefficient for Spectrocutometry was high (r=0.89 and 0.88). A Bayesian network analysis revealed a strong dependency between the estimated concentration change of hemoglobin and scar pain. Spectrocutometry is a feasible method for measuring scar hypertrophy. It is shown to be more reliable than subjective rating in assessing linear surgical scars.