Effect of Polarized Light on Post Burn Hypertrophic Scars

Abstract

Background. Hypertrophic scar (HTS) formation after burn remains a major issue for burned patients and is considered a huge problem for clinicians because the hypertrophic scar is painful, reddish, elevated, pruritic, and aesthetically unacceptable. Purpose. To study the effect of polarized light therapy (PLT) on post burn HTS. Materials and Methods. Thirty patients complaining of HTS formation after thermal burn with ages ranged from 20 to 40 years shared in this study and were randomly distributed into two matching groups in number (15 patients for each group). Group A (Study group): received 10 min. PLT 3 sessions/week plus silicone gel sheet (SGS) kept for 12 hours/day, medical treatment such as (hydration creams and antihistamine drugs), and routine physical therapy (splinting, massage therapy, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises) for 2 months. Group B (Control group): received SGS kept for 12 hours/day, medical treatment such as (hydration creams and antihistamine drugs), and routine physical therapy (splinting, massage therapy, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises) for 2 months. Methods of evaluation included Vancouver scar scale (VSS) to measure four parameters of hypertrophic scar (height, vascularity, pigmentation, and pliability) and photographic method to allow for visual assessment of the scars. Results. Comparison between post-treatment and pre-treatment in the study group showed a significant decrease in height, vascularity, pigmentation, and pliability scores (p > 0.01). There was a significant decrease in height and pliability scores of the study group in comparison with that of the control group (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in vascularity and pigmentation between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion. PLT is an effective, easy to apply, and non-invasive treatment modality in post burn HTS.