Clinical Symptoms of Postburn Hypertrophic Scars and Analysis of Risk Factors for Itching and Pain Requiring Pharmacological Intervention.

Abstract

Background: Pruritus and pain symptoms secondary to hypertrophic scars (HTSs) are associated with multiple factors, with age, body mass index (BMI), and scar thickness being the main risk factors (RFs).

Objective: This study mainly discusses the clinical symptoms associated with postburn HTSs and analyzes RFs for itching and pain requiring pharmacological intervention.

Materials and methods: All clinical data of 93 patients with postburn HTSs who visited the Burn Department of Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2023 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Referring to the University of North Carolina "4P" Scar Scale, patients were rated as either "with" or "without" according to whether they had "scar itching symptoms requiring pharmacological intervention."

Results: Smoking, third-degree burns, unused silicone drugs, and total burn surface area 30% to 50% were independent RFs for requiring pharmacological intervention for postburn scar pruritus (odds ratio [OR] = 2.998, 3.924, 3.588, and 5.965, p < .05). Age, increased BMI, greater scar thickness, and duration of hyperplasia not more than 1 year significantly increased the risk of scar pain requiring medical intervention (OR = 1.626, 2.441, 20.830, 11.646, and 11.136, p < .05).

Conclusion: The clinical value of these factors is that they can help physicians better identify those patients who may require pharmacological intervention to control itching and pain.