Aim: To determine the effects of Er:YAG laser in the
management of facial post-burn scars by ablative and fractional
lasers.
Background: Post burn scars of the face can be hypertrophic,
atrophic, keloid, hyper pigmented or hypo pigmented
scars, Erbium-Yag laser was documented to treat these scars
effectively.
Patients and Methods: 15 patients with facial post-burn
scars were treated by Er:YAG laser. The lower 3rd is affected
in 70% of the cases, middle 3rd is affected in 20% and upper
3rd is affected in 10% of the cases. Fractional mode was used
for 9 patients with pigmentation and vascularity, and 6 patients
was treated by ablative mode for height and pliability.
Results: The patients were assessed clinically by Vancouver
scar assessment scale (VSS) as regard pliability, height,
vascularity and hyperpigmentation and assessed histopathologically
by hematoxyline-eosin (H&E) and Masson's Trichrome.
The 1st group shows improvement in pigmentation
by VSS assessment in 66.7% and hypevascularity in 60.0%
of the patients, while in the second group improvement
occurred in height in 86.7% and pliability in 80.0% of the
patients.
Conclusion: Ablative and fractional modes of laser Er:
YAG can be used for treatment of facial post-burn hypertrophic
scars with good results.