Post-Surgical Repair of Cleft Scar Using Fractional CO₂ Laser

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative scarring is a frequent cause of patient dissatisfaction after surgical repairs.
• Inadequate collagen formation can lead to persistent scarring, particularly after cleft lip surgeries.
• Existing treatments have limitations in fully resolving scar appearance and texture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of early fractional ablative 10,600 nm carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment for improving postoperative cleft lip scars.
• To assess scar improvement using objective measures and patient-reported outcomes.
• To compare fractional CO2 laser therapy with traditional ablative CO2 laser treatments.

Main Methods:

• Six patients with cleft lip scars underwent six fractional ablative CO2 laser sessions over six months.
• Scar evaluation included the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction.
• Pre- and post-treatment digital clinical photographs were compared, alongside a patient satisfaction survey.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in scar appearance was observed, with VSS scores decreasing from 9.17 ± 2.2 to 3.33 ± 1.9 (P < 0.001).
• Patients reported high satisfaction (VAS 8.0 ± 0.9) and improved psychological state.
• Temporary side effects included pain during sessions and crusting for 3-5 days; no long-term complications were noted.

Conclusions:

• Early fractional ablative CO2 laser treatment is a safe and effective method for improving postoperative cleft lip scars.
• This approach leads to high patient satisfaction and better scar quality compared to older scars.
• Fractional CO2 laser offers advantages over traditional ablative CO2 lasers, with reduced complications and downtime.