Patient satisfaction after fractional ablation of burn scar with 2940 nm wavelength Erbium-Yag laser. Issue 5 (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madni, Tarik D.; Nakonezny, Paul A.; Imran, Jonathan B.; Clark, Audra T.; Cunningham, Holly B.; Hoopman, John E.; Arnoldo, Brett D.; Wolf, Steven E.; Kenkel, Jeffrey M.; Phelan, Herb A.
• Is Part Of: Burns. Volume 44:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1100
• Page End: 1105
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Burn -- Scar -- Laser -- Erbium -- Satisfaction; Burns and scalds -- Periodicals; 617.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2018.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-4179

Abstract

Highlights: Laser therapy is used to treat burn scar without the morbidity of invasive surgery. A survey of patient satisfaction after fractional laser therapy was performed. Over 90% of patients reported some degree of burn scar improvement after therapy. Burn patients treated with the Erbium-Yag laser are extremely satisfied. Abstract: Objective: Fractional laser therapy is a new treatment with potential benefit in the treatment of burn scars. We sought to determine patient satisfaction after burn scar treatment with the Erbium-Yag laser. Methods: We performed a telephone survey of all patients who underwent fractional resurfacing of burn scars with the Erbium-Yag 2940 wavelength laser at Parkland Hospital from 01/01/2016 to 05/01/2017. Subjects were asked to rate their satisfaction with their scars' after treatment characteristics on a scale from 1 (completely unsatisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied). Subjects were also asked to assess their treatment response using the UNC 4P Scar Scale before and after treatment. Results: Sixty-four patients underwent 156 treatments. A survey response rate of 77% (49/64) was seen (age: 36.8 + 21 years; surface area treated = 435 + 326 cm 2 ; 35% of burn scars were >2 years old; mean scar age of 1.02 + 0.4 years). Overall, 46/49 (94%) of patients reported some degree of scar improvement after treatment. Patient satisfaction scores were 8.3 + 2.3. Number of laser treatments included: 1 (31%), 2 (33%), 3 (18%), 4(10%), >5 (8%). Treatment depth, scar age, and number of laser procedures were not significant predictors of satisfaction or UNC 4P Scar scores. The paired t-test showed a significant reduction on each of the UNC 4P Scar scale items (pain, pruritus, pliability, paresthesia). One subject reported that she felt that the laser treatment made her scar worse (2%). Conclusion: Burn patients treated with the Erbium-Yag laser are highly satisfied with changes in their burn scars.