Clinical and Histological Assessment of Combined Fractional CO2 Laser and Growth Factors Versus Fractional CO2 Laser Alone in the Treatment of Facial Mature Burn Scars: A Pilot Split-Face Study.

Abstract

Background and objectives: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of growth factors combined with fractional carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) laser in comparison with fractional CO₂ alone in a sample of patients with facial mature burn scars.

Study design/materials and methods: Fifteen Egyptian patients with bilateral facial burn scars were treated with six sessions of fractional CO₂ laser at 6-week intervals. Following each laser session, a topical growth factors cocktail was applied to one side of the face in a split-face manner. Clinical evaluation by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (PSOS), and photography before and 2 months after the last laser session was done. Three millimeter punch biopsies were obtained from each side of the face pre- and 1-month posttreatment to measure the mean area percent of collagen.

Results: Posttreatment, both VSS and PSOS scores decreased on both sides of the face being more significant on the growth factors treated side, showing more scar pliability and shorter downtime (P = 0.001). A significant difference in the mean area percent of collagen was also noted on both sides.

Conclusion: Adding topical growth factors to fractional CO₂ laser treatments is effective and safe with better results as regards scar pliability and shorter downtime than fractional CO₂ laser alone. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.