The association of hypertrophic scars following burns and other trauma with significant functional and psychosocial impairment is well known. Ablative fractional lasers are increasingly being used for treating these scars supported by a rapidly expanding multidisciplinary base of literature. The researchers performed a systematic review to identify pertinent literature through September 2019. In this review, retrospective cohort, randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized controlled trials, observational prospective cohort, or case series with ≥ 5 participants with hypertrophic scars incurred from burns and related trauma were considered.

The findings published in the Archives of Dermatological Research showed that of 23 studies that were evaluated, 22 documented statistically significant and/or meaningful qualitative improvements in nearly all outcome measures. Adverse events were generally infrequent and minor. There is a wealth of data on the use of ablative fractional lasers in the management of hypertrophic scars, however, study heterogeneity limits generalizability.

Source: Arch Dermatol Res. 2020 Sep 14. doi: 10.1007/s00403-020-02135-5.