The purpose of this study is to identify changes in color, thickness, and stiffness, of scars from skin grafting after burns when treated with a pulsed-dyed laser.
Pulsed-dyed lasers have been used in the past to treat scars from minor surgery as well as burns. The laser has been used at different times, close to injury or late after injury. Success or failure of the laser has been judged by subjective observer scales. In this study we will treat the seams of 1/2 of a skin graft with a pulsed-dyed laser, beginning about one month after surgery. We will use objective measures of color (redness on digital pictures), scar volume(via laser scanning), and elasticity(measured by BTC-2000) as well as subjective assessment by an independent observer and the patient.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
17
Pulsed-dye laser will be applied to 1/2 of the seam of the skin graft, using a 10mm spot size, and sufficient pulse-width and fluency to induce purpura.
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Amount of redness of scar
Time frame: 4 to 12 months after skin grafting
Scar height
Time frame: 4-12 months after skin grafting
Scar stiffness
Time frame: 4-12 months after skin grafting
Patient's assessment of cosmetic outcome
Time frame: 4-12months after skin grafting
Clinical improvement of appearance of scars assessed by subjective scale
Time frame: 4-12 months after skin grafting
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