High-intensity laser photocoagulation and cryodestruction in the treatment of patients with skin scars

Abstract

Purpose: to assess the effects of combined application of high-level laser photocoagulation and simultaneous cryodestruction at pathological scars on the skin.Material and methods. Two groups included patients of both genders aged 18 and older. Patients from the fi rst (main) group (n = 60) had simultaneous high-level laser irradiation and cryodestruction on scar tissue; patients from the second (control) group (n = 30) were treated separately with laser irradiation and cryodestruction. For laser irradiation, laser devise CO2-laser AKHIL with wavelength 10.6 μm, pulsed frequency 10–20 Hz and power 5–15 W was used. For cryodestruction, apparatus “KRIO-RM-01” was used: tip cooling speed of 220 °C/min, the temperature of 180 °C on the tip working part, exposure time – 15–20 sec. The treated patients had hypertrophic and keloid scars. Etiologically, scars were of post-traumatic, postoperative, post-eruptive types. Evaluation criteria were histological examination of biopsy material with eosinhematoxylin, patients’ quality of life, examination of scar zone.Results. The obtained results demonstrate that the combined application of two physical factors (laser + cryo) at scar tissue increases satisfactory outcomes in patients with hypertrophic scars by 75 % and by 53.4 % in the control group. Relapses were seen in both groups: 25 % in the main group and 46 % in the control group. Morphologically, one can see positive changes in degradation of rough fi brous tissue.Conclusion. A combined application of high-intensity laser photocoagulation and simultaneous cryodestruction has been proven to be effective in patients with pathological skin scars.