Experimental comparative study of the effect of fractional CO2 laser combined with pulsed dye laser versus each laser alone on the treatment of hypertrophic scar of rabbit ears.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of fractional CO2  laser and pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy to treat and/or prevent scarring following burn injury is becoming more widespread with a number of studies reporting reduction in scar erythema and pruritus following treatment with lasers. The objective of this study was to directly compare the efficacy of PDL, fractional CO2 , and PDL and fractional CO2  laser therapy in immature red hypertrophic scars in a standardized animal model. METHODS: Ten New Zealand big-eared rabbits were used to make rabbit ear hypertrophic scar models. A total of 80 hypertrophic scar models were obtained and randomly divided into groups: control (Group A), Fractional CO2  laser (Group B), pulse dye laser (Group C), combined (Group D), 20 in each group. Wound sites were treated with PDL, Fractional CO2  laser, or both at 28 days post-grafting. Grafts receiving no laser therapy served as controls. Hypertrophic scar appearance, morphology, size, and erythema were assessed, and punch biopsies were collected. At days 7 and 28, additional tissue was collected for biomechanical analyses and markers for HE staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemical method to determine the CD31 content in the scar; Western blot to detect the expression of VEGF protein in scars. After the day 7 and 28, the scars were collected. Histomorphological change in scars was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining. The expression of CD31, VEGF protein, and the cell apoptosis rate was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: (i) In morphological observation, HE staining and Masson staining, both the number of fibroblasts and amount of collagen fibrils in the experimental group were significantly reduced compared with those in control group. (ii) Micro-vessel Density (MVD) value can be found much smaller in the experimental groups than the control (p < 0.05). Among the four experimental groups, there was a significant difference among 14d, 21d, and 28d groups (p < 0.05). (iii) On days 7 and 28 after treatment, expression of VEGF could be regulated in experimental group (p < 0.05). Among the three experimental groups, the decrease of VEGF in the combined group was significantly stronger than that of the other two. CONCLUSION: The effect of Fractional CO2  laser combined with pulsed dye laser treatment was shown to be better than that of Fractional CO2  laser or pulsed dye laser alone and inhibits the early hypertrophic scar in rabbit ears.

Laser therapy in the treatment of cicatricial ectropion.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of laser therapy in treating cicatricial ectropion. METHODS: Seven patients with cicatricial ectropion were entered into this clinical study. The ectropions were pretreated with the 595-nm pulsed dye laser if the scar color was red. If there was no red, the UltraPulse fractional CO2 laser was used and parameters were adapted according to the height of scar. MEBT/MEBO was used after laser treatment for wound healing. The degree of ectropion was measured for changes before and after treatment, and the scars were evaluated for changes in melanin, height, vascularity, and pliability using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before and after treatment. RESULTS: All seven patients with cicatricial ectropion entered into this protocol were completely corrected after 1-2 treatment sessions. The total VSS score, as well as the score for melanin and pliability in 7 patients, showed a decrease following the treatments, and this was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The scores for height and vascularity showed a decrease following the treatments, but there was no significant difference by statistical analysis (P ≥ 0.05). There were no adverse reactions reported. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of cicatricial ectropion with laser therapy can not only correct the ectropion, but also improve the scars in the treatment area. Compared with the traditional repair of cicatricial ectropion, the use of fractional CO2 laser provides surgical precision and the advantage of a timely treatment without the need to wait for the scar to stabilize.

Moist exposed burn therapy in recovery of patients with immature, red hypertrophic scars successfully treated with a pulsed dye laser in combination with a fractional CO2 laser.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of pulsed dye laser combined (PDL) and UltraPulse fractional CO2 in treatment of hypertrophic scars is well documented. The present study investigates the efficacy of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO)/moist exposed burn therapy (MEBT) in postlaser wound management. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with immature, red hypertrophic scars were enrolled in this clinical trial. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: (a) the MEBO treatment group (n = 30) and (b) the control group (n = 31) treated with chlortetracycline hydrochloride ointment. Demographic data such as age, gender, and cause of scars were recorded. A visual analogue score (VAS) was collected to measure pain at 1, 6, 24, 72 hours, and 7 days post-treatment. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to determine the response of the scars before and 3 months after the treatment. The wound healing time and pigmentation scores were also recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in age, gender, and etiology of the scars in the two groups. The VAS scores in MEBO group were significantly lower than the control group within the first 3 days after treatment. The wound healing time of the MEBO group was significantly shorter than the control group. For both groups, VSS scores were significantly decreased and the scar markedly improved. However, the VSS scores were significantly lower in the MEBO group compared with the control group 3 months after treatment and pigmentation formation was dramatically lower in MEBO group compared with the control. CONCLUSION: MEBT/MEBO treatment reduced the post-treatment pain, shortened the wound healing duration, promoted the overall scar condition, and reduced the incidence of pigmentation.

Treatment of skin soft tissue embolism after hyaluronic acid injection for injection rhinoplasty in Asian patients.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this manuscript is to investigate the treatment of skin soft tissue embolization or vascular occlusion after the injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) for Injection Rhinoplasty (IR) in Asians with a special interest in the time occurrence of the occlusion. METHODS: A total of 35 cases were evaluated after receiving HA injections for IR who presented with a vascular occlusive event. They were divided into three stages based on the time to embolization. Immediate, ≤5 hours; early, ≤3 days; and late, >3 days. There were two cases of immediate, 28 deemed early, and five late. Methods to prevent tissue necrosis are reviewed in the manuscript based on these stages. RESULTS: Skin color gradually recovered to normal after 11 treatments in 11 patients with mild embolization. No ischemic aggravation or skin necrosis was observed in 19 patients with moderate embolization; red scarring was seen in two and hypertrophic scar with uneven skin color in one patient. The five patients in the severe category had longer healing, more red scars, and more hypertrophic scarring. CONCLUSION: The treatment of skin soft tissue embolization or vascular occlusion after HA IR in Asians can be effected by identifying the stage and degree of embolization and treating appropriately with the outlines presented in this manuscript.

Comparison of the effectiveness of pulsed dye laser vs pulsed dye laser combined with ultrapulse fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of immature red hypertrophic scars.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to investigate the clinical effect of an adjustable pulse width Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) vs an adjustable pulse width PDL combined with fractional CO2 laser in treating immature red hypertrophic scars. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (56 sites)were randomly divided into a treatment group and control group. The control group was treated with the 595 nm PDL at a fluence of 7-15J/cm2 and pulse widths of 1.5-3 ms, 7 mm spot size. The treatment group was treated with a fractional CO2 laser (UltraPulse CO2 : Deep FX, Energy: 30~50 mJ, Frequency: 300 Hz, Density 5%, Scan Shape, and Spot Size were decided by shape and area of scar) after utilizing the 595 nm adjustable pulse width PDL (Fluence: 7-15J/cm2 , Pulse widths: 1.5-3 ms, Spot size: 7 mm). MEBT/MEBO, previously described as a post-treatment wound ointment, was used after laser treatment. The scars of the treatment group and the control group were evaluated for changes in pigment, height, vascularity, and pliability using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) after two laser treatments. RESULTS: The total VSS score, as well as the score for melanin, height, vascularity, pliability in both groups, showed an obvious decrease following the treatments. There were statistically significant differences between before treatment and after treatment (P < .05); however, the total score of the VSS, and score of the melanin, height, vascularity, and pliability in the control group decreased more than that of treatment group, and there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The 595 nm adjustable pulse width PDL combined with the fractional CO2 fractional laser appears to have a beneficial clinical effect on fresh red hypertrophic scars, with no severe adverse reactions seen.

The use of the fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in the treatment of photoaging in Asians: five years long-term results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this clinical paper is to explore the therapeutic effects, healing times, adverse effects, and maintenance periods of using a CO2 fractional laser in the treatment of photoaging in Asian skin. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: One fractional CO2 laser procedure was performed on the full face in 56 patients with photoaging. Based on the Dover scoring system, we evaluated the degree of skin aging before treatment and at one-month post laser and at five years post laser therapy in 30 of the patients. Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon's method. RESULTS: Thirty of the treated patients have had follow-up for 5 years at this time. The photoaging scores in these thirty patients were significantly changed (P < 0.01) at one month, one year, and five years after the fractional laser treatment, as compared with their baseline. Adverse events seen during this analysis were found to be minimal and not of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in the treatment of photoaging in Asians is a useful modality with results, for the first time, being shown to have continued efficacy for up to 5 years.