Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to share the first results of the laser application we started using in our center to treat hypertrophic scars formed after burns.

Patients and methods: The retrospective study was conducted with 10 pediatric patients (5 males, 5 females; median age: 3.5 years; range, 30 month to 10 years) treated for post-burn hypertrophic scars between January 2023 and July 2023. Burn patients to whom we applied Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet) laser due to complaints such as contracture, hypertrophic scar, and itching were evaluated. Of all patients who underwent laser application, some received intralesional steroid application during the same session. The patient's age, sex, burn agent, burn percentage, scar areas, number of sessions, post-laser complaints, findings, the patient scar assessment scale (PSAS), and the observer scar assessment scale (OSAS) were evaluated.

Results: The burn agent was two flame burns and eight scald burns. A graft was not applied in four patients, and a graft was used in six patients. The time between the burn dates and laser application ranged between seven months and eight years. One patient underwent four laser sessions, one patient had three laser sessions, and the other patients underwent one session. It was observed in the controls that after laser application, the itching decreased significantly, the hypertrophic scar softened, and its color faded. The PSAS and OSAS scores were found to be statistically significantly reduced (p< 0.01).

Conclusion: In the treatment of post-burn hypertrophic scars with Nd:YAG laser treatment, the hypertrophic scar softens, its color fades, itching decreases significantly, and there is a decrease in contracture. Treatment satisfaction of patients and parents had a positive psychological impact on the family. Furthermore, laser therapy can reduce the cost of expensive post-burn care. The increasing use of laser applications also reveals the need for standardization.

Citation: Dayi S, Dede B, İşçimen S, Anayurt M, Sancar S. First results of laser treatment in our pediatric burn patients. Turkish J Ped Surg 2024;38(2):45-51. doi: 10.62114/ JTAPS.2024.42.

The study protocol was approved by the Bursa City Hospital Ethics Committee (date: 05.10.2023, no: 2023–16/11). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

A written informed consent was obtained from the parents and/or legal guardians of the patients.

Data Sharing Statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Designed the study, contributed to the interpretation of the data, drafted the manuscript, wrote, and edited: S.D.; Collected data and performed analysis and interpretation of the data: B.D.; Collected data and contributed to the interpretation of the data, and drafted the manuscript: S.İ., M.A., S.S. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.