| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye lasers (PDLs) have successfully treated keloidal and hypertrophic scars. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the effect of pulse width of a PDL in treating keloidal and hypertrophic scars. METHODS: On each of 19 patients, keloidal or hypertrophic median sternotomy scars were divided into two segments. Both segments on all patients were randomly treated with a 595-nm PDL at a fluence of 7 J/cm(2) and pulse widths of 0.45 and 40 ms to both segments, every 4 weeks for a total of three treatments. Scar volume, height, erythema, and pliability were measured at Weeks 0, 4, 8, and 24. RESULTS: The volume of segments treated with 0.45- and 40-ms pulses decreased significantly after two treatments. Segments treated with a 0.45-ms pulse width showed significantly greater improvement than those treated with 40-ms pulses after three treatments. Elasticity of 0.45-ms segments was significantly higher than those of 40-ms segments, following two treatments. Pulse width had no significant effect in improvement of scar erythema. CONCLUSIONS: A pulse width of 0.45 ms of PDL was more effective in decreasing scar size and improving scar pliability than that of 40 ms. A 595-nm PDL was safe and effective in treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids in dark-skinned individuals. This study was supported in part by an educational grant from the Dermatological Society of Thailand. |
| Authors | Woraphong Manuskiatti, Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, Richard E Fitzpatrick
(Affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. siwmn at mahidol.ac.th)
|
| Journal | Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]
(Dermatol Surg)
Vol. 33
Issue 2
Pg. 152-61
(Feb 2007)
ISSN: 1076-0512 United States |
| PMID | 17300600
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
|
| Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Child
- Cicatrix, Hypertrophic
(therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Keloid
(therapy)
- Laser Therapy, Low-Level
(methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Sternum
(surgery)
- Thoracotomy
- Treatment Outcome
- Wound Healing
|
