Patient satisfaction after fractional ablation of burn scar with 2940 nm wavelength Erbium-Yag laser

Tarik D. Madni, Paul A. Nakonezny, Jonathan B. Imran, Audra T. Clark, Holly B. Cunningham, John E. Hoopman, Brett D. Arnoldo, Steven E. Wolf, Jeffrey M. Kenkel, Herb A. Phelan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1100-1105
Number of pages6
JournalBurns
Volume44
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Burn
  • Erbium
  • Laser
  • Satisfaction
  • Scar

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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