Impact of laser treatment on hypertrophic burn scars in pediatric burn patients

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Hypertrophic burn scars in pediatric patients often require intervention.
• Laser therapy is a recognized treatment for burn scars, but its efficacy varies by body region and prior treatments.
• Limited data exists on the effectiveness of laser treatment for pediatric burn scars based on specific anatomical locations and previous therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of fractional CO2 laser therapy, with or without pulse dye laser, on pediatric hypertrophic burn scars.
• To analyze treatment outcomes stratified by body region and prior burn wound management.
• To provide data for improved pre-treatment counseling for patients and families.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 99 pediatric burn patients treated between 2018-2022.
• Utilized fractional CO2 laser, with or without pulse dye laser, for scar treatment.
• Assessed scar improvement using the modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS) scores, analyzing changes by body region and scar characteristics.

Main Results:

• A total of 332 laser sessions were administered.
• Significant improvements were observed in mVSS scores for anterior trunk, arms, and legs.
• Key scar components, including pigmentation and vascularity, showed significant reductions (p < 0.001), alongside overall mVSS score improvement (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Fractional laser treatment, alone or combined with pulse dye laser, is effective in improving pediatric hypertrophic burn scars.
• Treatment benefits are evident across multiple body regions, particularly in reducing pigmentation and vascularity.
• These findings support the use of laser therapy and aid in setting patient expectations regarding outcomes.