The use of carbon dioxide and intense pulsed light laser for the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars: A case series.

Many people will suffer a burn injury throughout their life and up to almost 3 out of 4 people with burn injuries will suffer from hypertrophic scars (a thickened, red and itchy scar). These scars cause distress both due to their appearance and their reduction of function, particularly over a joint or muscle. Laser therapy, in which different wave lengths of light (pulsed light) or gas (carbon dioxide) target the scar, has been found to be effective and have minimal side effects in the management of hypertrophic scars. While individual lasers have been assessed and found to be effective and low risk, the combined use of multiple lasers on the same scar has not been extensively studied. We studied the effectiveness of both light and gas laser therapies on hypertrophic scars. Patients with hypertrophic scars completed a questionnaire that focused on their perspective of their scar (pain, itch, stiffness, thickness, irregularity, overall opinion) prior to the treatment. The patients then underwent laser therapy (with local anaesthetic gel) with either pulsed light and/or carbon dioxide (gas) laser. The type of laser used was decided by the clinician performing the therapy depending on scar location and thickness. Patients then re-completed the subjective survey six weeks following the laser therapy, and the results compared. We learnt that laser therapy (both light, gas and a combination of both) are effective (and low risk) in reducing the subjective burden of the scar for the patient.