Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Hypertrophic Scars
Chuangsuwanich et al., 2022.
Arch Plast Surg. 2022 Jul 30;49(4):554-560. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1751027.
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Free full text at: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Hypertrophic Scars – PubMed (nih.gov)
Background Hypertrophic scars cause aesthetic concerns and negatively affect the quality of life. A gold standard treatment for hypertrophic scars has not been established due to various responses of modalities. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive and affects scar remodeling by fibroblast regulation. This study investigated the effectiveness of ESWT for hypertrophic scars.
Methods Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. All patients underwent ESWT once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Their scars were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), erythema index, melanin index, and scar pliability before treatment and again 4 weeks after treatment completion.
Results Thirty-four hypertrophic scars in this study had persisted for between 6 months and 30 years. Most scars developed after surgical incision (55.88%). The chest and upper extremities were the predominant areas of occurrence (35.29% each). Most of the POSAS subscales and total scores were significantly improved 4 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the pain, itching, and pigmentation subscale were improved. The pliability, melanin index, and erythema index were also improved, but without significance. The patients were satisfied with the results and symptoms alleviation, although subjective score changes were insignificant. No serious adverse events were found. The patients reported pruritus in 62.5% and good pain tolerance in 37.5%. Subgroup analyses found no differences in scar etiologies or properties at different parts of the body.
Conclusion The ESWT is a modality for hypertrophic scar treatment with promising results. Most of POSAS subscales were significantly improved.
Spark Wave Therapy
- Is non-invasive and safe.
- Improves scar colour.
- Reduces scar thickness.
- Improves scar vascularity.
- Reduces scar surface irregularity.
- Improves scar pliability and reliefs pain.
Promising treatment modality for challenging pathological scarring for which there is no gold-standard treatment option to date!
Reference:
- Chuangsuwanich A, Kongkunnavat N, Kamanamool M, Maipeng G, Kamanamool N, Tonaree W. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Hypertrophic Scars. Arch Plast Surg. 2022 Jul 30;49(4):554-560. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1751027. PMID: 35919551; PMCID: PMC9340180.