Skin Stretching for Burn Scar Excision - A Critically Appraised Topic

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Adult burn scars present significant long-term challenges for patients.
• Scar excision is the current standard treatment, aiming for minimal scar size.
• Scar stretching techniques may enhance the efficacy of scar excision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically appraise the existing evidence for burn scar stretching in routine clinical practice.
• To determine if current data supports the use of scar stretching alongside excision for adult burn victims.

Main Methods:

• A PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) question was formulated for adult burn victims undergoing scar excision with or without stretching.
• A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and Trip Database using the query "stretch* burn scar".
• One relevant study was selected for critical appraisal using established methodologies and assessed for reporting quality via the CONSORT statement.

Main Results:

• A single study was critically appraised to evaluate the evidence for burn scar stretching.
• Methodological and reporting weaknesses were identified in the appraised study.
• The current evidence base is limited and requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Burn scar stretching, as evaluated, necessitates substantial additional research.
• Widespread clinical adoption for burn scar management is not yet supported by robust evidence.
• Further studies are crucial to establish the safety and efficacy of this intervention.