TY - JOUR

T1 - Laser Treatment of Traumatic Scars and Contractures

T2 - 2020 International Consensus Recommendations

AU - Seago, Meghan

AU - Shumaker, Peter R.

AU - Spring, Leah K.

AU - Alam, Murad

AU - Al-Niaimi, Firas

AU - Rox Anderson, R.

AU - Artzi, Ofir

AU - Bayat, Ardeshir

AU - Cassuto, Daniel

AU - Chan, Henry H.L.

AU - Dierickx, Christine

AU - Donelan, Matthias

AU - Gauglitz, Gerd G.

AU - Leo Goo, Boncheol

AU - Goodman, Greg J.

AU - Gurtner, Geoffrey

AU - Haedersdal, Merete

AU - Krakowski, Andrew C.

AU - Manuskiatti, Woraphong

AU - Norbury, William B.

AU - Ogawa, Rei

AU - Ozog, David M.

AU - Paasch, Uwe

AU - Victor Ross, E.

AU - Tretti Clementoni, Matteo

AU - Waibel, Jill

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Background and Objectives: There is currently intense multidisciplinary interest and a maturing body of literature regarding laser treatments for traumatic scars, but international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes have not yet caught up with current knowledge and practice in many centers. The authors intend to highlight the tremendous potential of laser techniques, offer recommendations for safe and efficacious treatment, and promote wider patient access guided by future high-quality research. Study Design/Materials and Methods: An international panel of 26 dermatologists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons from 13 different countries and a variety of practice backgrounds was self-assembled to develop updated consensus recommendations for the laser treatment of traumatic scars. A three-step modified Delphi method took place between March 2018 and March 2019 consisting of two rounds of emailed questionnaires and supplementary face-to-face meetings. The panel members approved the final manuscript via email correspondence, and the threshold for consensus was at least 80% concurrence among the panel members. Results: The manuscript includes extensive detailed discussion regarding a variety of laser platforms commonly used for traumatic scar management such as vascular lasers and ablative and non-ablative fractional lasers, special considerations such as coding and laser treatments in skin of color, and 25 summary consensus recommendations. Conclusions: Lasers are a first-line therapy in the management of traumatic scars and contractures, and patients without access to these treatments may not be receiving the best available care after injury. Updated international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes, additional high-quality research, and patient access should reflect this status. Lasers Surg. Med.

AB - Background and Objectives: There is currently intense multidisciplinary interest and a maturing body of literature regarding laser treatments for traumatic scars, but international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes have not yet caught up with current knowledge and practice in many centers. The authors intend to highlight the tremendous potential of laser techniques, offer recommendations for safe and efficacious treatment, and promote wider patient access guided by future high-quality research. Study Design/Materials and Methods: An international panel of 26 dermatologists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons from 13 different countries and a variety of practice backgrounds was self-assembled to develop updated consensus recommendations for the laser treatment of traumatic scars. A three-step modified Delphi method took place between March 2018 and March 2019 consisting of two rounds of emailed questionnaires and supplementary face-to-face meetings. The panel members approved the final manuscript via email correspondence, and the threshold for consensus was at least 80% concurrence among the panel members. Results: The manuscript includes extensive detailed discussion regarding a variety of laser platforms commonly used for traumatic scar management such as vascular lasers and ablative and non-ablative fractional lasers, special considerations such as coding and laser treatments in skin of color, and 25 summary consensus recommendations. Conclusions: Lasers are a first-line therapy in the management of traumatic scars and contractures, and patients without access to these treatments may not be receiving the best available care after injury. Updated international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes, additional high-quality research, and patient access should reflect this status. Lasers Surg. Med.

KW - burn scar

KW - fractional

KW - laser

KW - scar

KW - traumatic scar

KW - vascular

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076379229&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/lsm.23201

DO - 10.1002/lsm.23201

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31820478

AN - SCOPUS:85076379229

VL - 52

SP - 96

EP - 116

JO - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

JF - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

SN - 0196-8092

IS - 2

ER -