Treatment of Surgical Scars with the Cryogen-Cooled 595 nm Pulsed Dye Laser Starting on the Day of Suture Removal

Treatment of Surgical Scars with the Cryogen-Cooled 595 nm Pulsed Dye Laser Starting on the Day of Suture Removal
Issue online:
03 Mar 2006
To cite this article: Theresa Dressler Conologue CPT, MC, Christopher Norwood CDR, MC (2006)
Treatment of Surgical Scars with the Cryogen-Cooled 595 nm Pulsed Dye Laser Starting on the Day of Suture Removal
Dermatologic Surgery 32 (1), 13Ò20.
doi:10.1111/1524-4725.2006.32002
Blackwell Synergy

Theresa Dressler Conologue, CPT, MC,**Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC‹‹Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland and Christopher Norwood, CDR, MC‹‹Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Theresa Conologue, CPT, MC, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave., Department of Dermatology, Rm IJ, Washington, DC 20007, or e-mail: tconologue@msn.com.

Abstract
BACKGROUND Cosmetic results after skin surgery are a key component of patient satisfaction and self-image. Various lasers have been used to attempt scar improvement without consistent results. The optimal time to initiate laser treatment has not been determined. A recent study using a noncooled 585 nm pulsed dye laser starting on the day of suture removal demonstrated substantial improvement in scar appearance.

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of the 595 nm cryogen-cooled pulsed dye laser in the treatment of surgical scars starting on the day of suture removal.

METHODS Sixteen patients with postoperative linear scars of greater than 2 cm were treated three times at 4- to 8-week intervals with a 595 nm cryogen-cooled pulsed dye laser. All patients had Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV. Each scar was divided at the midline into two fields, with half receiving treatment using a 7 mm spot size at 1.5 ms with 8 J/cm2 and a 30 ms spray duration with a 10 ms delay. The other half was not treated. Scars were evaluated for pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and height by a blinded examiner using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). In addition, the same blinded examiner evaluated the cosmetic appearance using a scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best) prior to the second treatment and 1 month after the final treatment.

RESULTS The average sum of all parameters in the VSS showed significant improvement from 1-month post-treatment to the final evaluation of 60% compared with the control of -3%. Also, scars in the treated portions scored an average of 2 points higher in the overall cosmetic appearance by the same blinded examiner based on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best). Among the individual parameters in the VSS, the most significant improvements were found in vascularity and pliability.

CONCLUSION The cryogen-cooled 595 nm pulsed dye laser is a safe and effective option to improve the cosmetic

Blackwell Synergy? is a Blackwell Publishing, Inc. registered trademark

You can view the abstract online. A subscription is required to view the full text or it can be purchased online.