Ablative Fractional Laser Resurfacing for the Treatment of a Third-degree Burn
BURN AND SCAR RESEARCH
Jill Waibel, MD, and Kenneth Beer, MD
Published in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Volume 8, Issue 3, pages 294-297 (2009)
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
This case report describes the use of ablative fractional CO₂ laser resurfacing to treat extensive third-degree burn scarring in a 51-year-old patient. The scars resulted from a burn sustained during infancy and had remained present for more than 50 years despite reconstructive procedures and other treatments. The patient received one ablative fractional CO₂ laser treatment targeting areas of facial and neck scarring.
KEY FINDINGS
The report involved one patient with longstanding third-degree burn scars.
The scars involved the face, neck, chest, and other areas of the body.
Previous treatments included reconstructive surgery, scar-revision procedures, and corticosteroid injections.
The authors selected ablative fractional resurfacing to address prominent textural changes in the scarred skin.
Following one treatment session, the authors observed improvement in the scar’s texture and appearance.
The postoperative course was generally uneventful, although the patient experienced nausea believed to be associated with pain medication.
The authors proposed that deeper treatment and collagen remodeling may have contributed to the observed improvement.
Additional studies were recommended to evaluate safety, effectiveness, appropriate treatment depth, and optimal patient selection.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This report provided early clinical evidence that ablative fractional resurfacing could potentially improve selected longstanding third-degree burn scars. Because the publication describes only one patient and did not include a control group, its findings should be considered preliminary. It does not establish that ablative treatment is superior to nonablative treatment or that similar results will occur in every patient.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Journal: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Year: 2009
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Pages: 294-297
Publication type: Case report
DOI: No DOI listed
Disclosure: Drs. Waibel and Beer reported serving as consultants for and receiving equipment from Lumenis Ltd.
This research summary is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The publication includes both approved indications and investigational applications. Treatment selection, settings, risks, recovery, and expected outcomes vary by patient and should be determined by a qualified medical professional following an individual evaluation.