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Evaluation of scars in children after treatment with low-level laser

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Abstract

Burn scars are known for their tendency to worsen with hypertrophy and contracture, causing esthetic and functional problems. The objective is to analyze the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on post-burn hypertrophic scar tissue in children. A randomized controlled study included 15 children, ranging from 2 to 10 years of age, presented with post-burn hypertrophic scars. They received He-Ne laser and topical treatment. Each scar was divided into two halves. One half was treated with laser therapy and topical treatment (study area), and the other half was treated with topical treatment only (control area). The children were evaluated before, and after 3 months of the study by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), ultrasonography, and laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Significant improvement was reported in the studied area, compared to the control area for patients with P values (P = 0.003) and (P = 0.005), for VSS and U/S scores, respectively. No differences were detected for blood perfusion of the scar between both areas (P = 0.73). In addition, no adverse effects were reported. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is an efficient and safe therapeutic modality for post-burn hypertrophic scars in children, with no side effects, and should be considered a part of combination therapy for better results.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all workers in Pediatrics and Burn Clinics in Cairo University for their cooperation during the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatrics Department, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (N.I.L.E.S), Cairo University, House 2 street 6 Zahraa Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    Jehan Alsharnoubi

  2. Physical Therapy Department of Growth and Developmental Disorder in Children and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Kamal El-Sayed Shoukry

  3. Lecturer of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mary Wadie Fawzy

  4. Pediatrics Department, Aboelreesh Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

    Omnia Mohamed

Authors
  1. Jehan Alsharnoubi
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  2. Kamal El-Sayed Shoukry
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  3. Mary Wadie Fawzy
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  4. Omnia Mohamed
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Correspondence to Jehan Alsharnoubi.

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Alsharnoubi, J., Shoukry, K.ES., Fawzy, M.W. et al. Evaluation of scars in children after treatment with low-level laser. Lasers Med Sci 33, 1991–1995 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2572-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2572-z

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