A Novel, Reliable Protocol to Objectively Assess Scar Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dermatology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Pathologic scarring after burns causes pain, itch, and limited movement due to increased stiffness.
• Accurate scar assessment is crucial for effective treatment and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate shear wave elastography (SWE) as a tool for quantifying and visualizing burn scar stiffness.
• To determine the reliability and diagnostic capability of SWE for differentiating scar types.

Main Methods:

• Developed a unique imaging protocol for raised and uneven burn scars.
• Assessed 96 burn scars and 69 normal skin sites in 55 participants.
• Measured intra-rater, inter-rater, and test-retest reliability of SWE measurements.

Main Results:

• SWE demonstrated excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability (ICC >0.97) and good test-retest reliability (ICC >0.85).
• SWE successfully differentiated between normal skin, pathologic scars, and non-pathologic scars, identifying preliminary cutoff values.
• Significant correlation found between shear wave velocity and clinical scar assessment (r=0.66).

Conclusions:

• Shear wave elastography is a reliable and valid tool for assessing burn scar stiffness.
• SWE provides unique quantitative data on pathologic scarring, aiding clinical assessment and research.
• This technology shows significant potential for improving burn scar management and patient care.