Intense pulsed light treatments in the early facial linear scars: a randomized controlled split-wound trial
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20241203-00311
- VernacularTitle:强脉冲光治疗早期面部线状瘢痕的随机自身对照研究
- Author:
Yifei GU
1
;
Jiayun FAN
;
Xiaoyun WANG
;
Dandan QIU
;
Lijun WU
Author Information
1. 苏州大学附属第二医院整形美容科，苏州 215004
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cicatrix;
Face;
Intense pulsed light;
Randomized controlled trial
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2025;41(3):223-230
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) for facial early linear scars.Methods:The patients who underwent facial plastic surgery and cosmetic suturing at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June to December 2023 were included. A randomized self-controlled study was conducted. Each post-operative wound was divided into the treatment and control sides by random number. The treatment side received 3 sessions of IPL treatment at 2-3 d after wound suturing, 6-7 d after suture removal and 6 weeks after surgery, respectively. The control side did not receive IPL treatment. After 3 months follow-up, the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS) were used to evaluate the scars on both sides. Adverse reactions were recorded. VSS evaluated scar severity through four items: vascularity (0-3 points), pigmentation (0-3 points), thickness (0-4 points), and pliability (0-5 points), with a total score of 0-15 points. The higher the score, the more serious the scar was. POSAS consisted of observer scar assessment scale (OSAS) and patient scar assessment scale (PSAS), OSAS included vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, surface relief, pliability, surface area and overall opinion. While PSAS included pain, itching, color, thickness, stiffness, irregularity, and overall opinion. Each component was assessed on a scale ranging from 1 to 10, while maximum scores indicated the worst outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using the Graphpad Prism 8.0 software. Normal distributed measurement data were expressed as Mean±SD, and non-normally distributed measurement data were expressed as M( Q1, Q3). Comparisons of VSS, OSAS, PSAS scores between the treatment and control sides were performed using paired sample t-test or paired sample Wilcoxon rank sum test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 23 facial trauma patients with 27 scars formed after debridement and aesthetic suture were enrolled in this study, including 17 males and 6 females, aged (28.2±6.1) years old. The length of the scars were (5.9±1.8) cm. After three sessions of treatment and 3 months follow-up, with regard to VSS, the treatment sides scored vascularity [0(0, 1) vs. 1(1, 1)], thickness [0(0, 0) vs. 0(0, 1)], and total scores [0.5(0, 1) vs. 1(1, 2.75)], which were statistically lower than the control sides (all P<0.05). With regard to OSAS, the treatment sides scored vascularity(2.1±0.9 vs. 3.0±1.0), pigmentation(2.2±0.8 vs. 2.3±0.8), thickness(1.4±0.7 vs. 1.9±0.9), surface relief(1.7±0.6 vs. 2.2±1.1), pliability(1.8±0.8 vs. 2.1±1.1), overall opinion(1.9±0.8 vs. 2.8±1.1) and total scores(12.6±4.4 vs. 16.2±6.2), which were statistically lower than the control sides(all P<0.05).With regard to PSAS, the treatment sides scored scar color(2.9±1.3 vs. 3.9±1.7), thickness(1.8±1.4 vs. 2.4±1.5), overall opinion(2.2±1.0 vs. 3.1±1.3) and total scores(14.3±6.7 vs. 17.7±7.7), which were statistically lower than the control sides(all P<0.05). No adverse reactions such as wound infection, delayed wound healing and blister formation were observed in all patients. Conclusion:IPL is effective in the treatment of early facial scars, which can significantly improve the vascularity, thickness, pigmentation, surface relief and pliability of scars, and improve the scars appearance. This treatment method is safe with few adverse reactions.
