TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractional CO2 laser treatment of caesarean section scars
AU - Karmisholt, Katrine E
AU - Taudorf, Elisabeth H
AU - Wulff, Camilla B
AU - Wenande, Emily
AU - Philipsen, Peter A
AU - Haedersdal, Merete
N1 - © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caesarean section (c-section) scars can be pose functional and cosmetic challenges and ablative fractional laser (AFXL) treatment may offer benefit to patients. We evaluated textural and color changes over time in AFXL-treated versus untreated control scars.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, intra-individual split-scar trial with three sessions of AFXL-treatments for mature c-section scars. Settings of AFXL were adjusted to each individual scar. End-points were blinded on-site clinical evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-up (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale [POSAS] and Vancouver Scar Scale [VSS]), blinded photo-evaluations, reflectance measurements, tissue histology, and patients satisfaction.RESULTS: Eleven of 12 patients completed the study. At 1 month follow-up, AFXL-treated scars were significantly improved in pliability (POSAS P = 0.01 VSS P = 0.02) and smoother in surface relief (POSAS P = 0.03) compared to control scars. At 1-3 months, overall scar appearance was dominated by transient erythema and hyperpigmentation, confirmed by reflectance measurements (erythema% and pigmentation% peaked at 1 and 3 month follow-up, respectively). At 6 months follow-up, AFXL-treated scars improved on POSAS-total score though not significantly (P = 0.06). Correspondingly, blinded photo-evaluation found AFXL-treated scars significantly improved compared to controls (VAS P = 0.02). Histology indicated new dermal collagen and elastic fibers on AFXL-treated scars. At 6 months follow-up, a majority of patients (64%) favored subsequent AFXL-treatment of their untreated control scar tissue.CONCLUSIONS: Scar remodeling is initiated 1 month after AFXL treatment, but overall scar improvement is concealed until laser-induced color changes resolve. At 6 months follow-up, the benefit of AFXL treatment on c-section scars emerges. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:189-197, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caesarean section (c-section) scars can be pose functional and cosmetic challenges and ablative fractional laser (AFXL) treatment may offer benefit to patients. We evaluated textural and color changes over time in AFXL-treated versus untreated control scars.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, intra-individual split-scar trial with three sessions of AFXL-treatments for mature c-section scars. Settings of AFXL were adjusted to each individual scar. End-points were blinded on-site clinical evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-up (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale [POSAS] and Vancouver Scar Scale [VSS]), blinded photo-evaluations, reflectance measurements, tissue histology, and patients satisfaction.RESULTS: Eleven of 12 patients completed the study. At 1 month follow-up, AFXL-treated scars were significantly improved in pliability (POSAS P = 0.01 VSS P = 0.02) and smoother in surface relief (POSAS P = 0.03) compared to control scars. At 1-3 months, overall scar appearance was dominated by transient erythema and hyperpigmentation, confirmed by reflectance measurements (erythema% and pigmentation% peaked at 1 and 3 month follow-up, respectively). At 6 months follow-up, AFXL-treated scars improved on POSAS-total score though not significantly (P = 0.06). Correspondingly, blinded photo-evaluation found AFXL-treated scars significantly improved compared to controls (VAS P = 0.02). Histology indicated new dermal collagen and elastic fibers on AFXL-treated scars. At 6 months follow-up, a majority of patients (64%) favored subsequent AFXL-treatment of their untreated control scar tissue.CONCLUSIONS: Scar remodeling is initiated 1 month after AFXL treatment, but overall scar improvement is concealed until laser-induced color changes resolve. At 6 months follow-up, the benefit of AFXL treatment on c-section scars emerges. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:189-197, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KW - Adult
KW - Cesarean Section/adverse effects
KW - Cicatrix/etiology
KW - Female
KW - Follow-Up Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Laser Therapy
KW - Lasers, Gas/therapeutic use
KW - Postoperative Complications/etiology
KW - Time Factors
KW - Treatment Outcome
U2 - 10.1002/lsm.22606
DO - 10.1002/lsm.22606
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27862066
SN - 0196-8092
VL - 49
SP - 189
EP - 197
JO - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
JF - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
IS - 2
ER -