Tunable dye laser neovessel ablation as an adjunct to the management of hypertrophic scarring in burned children: Pilot trial to establish safety

Hypertrophic scarring is a major source of morbidity in patients with burns. The physiologic characteristics are poorly understood, but increased neovascularity is typically seen in those wounds destined to become hypertrophic. We theorize that ablation of the developing neovasculature may favorably influence the development of the hypertrophic scar. The goal of this pilot trial was to establish the practicality and safety of tunable dye laser neovessel ablation at 585 nm. Ten sites of evolving hypertrophic scar in nine children were treated with a series of 450 msec 6.75 J/cm² pulses at 585 nm. Although all children had the expected transient posttreatment purpura, no pain, ulceration, pruritis, or worsening of the lesions was seen. The technique appears safe and is worthy of continuing investigation. Investigations with higher fluences and multiple treatments are in progress.