Early laser treatment for burn scars

Conditions

Prevention/treatment of hypertrophic scars in burn patients Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Heaslip V, Docherty S, Rhodes S, Obioha U, Breheny K, Attrill K, Pleat J, Brewin MP.

2025-11-07

10.1016/j.burns.2025.107772

Early Laser for Burn Scars (ELABS) - Randomised controlled trial of pulsed dye laser treatment and standard care versus standard care alone for the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars.

Brewin MP, Docherty S, Heaslip V, Rhodes S, Ukoumunne OC, Burnett-Fry NC, Breheny K, Pleat JM, Attrill KM, Shokrollahi K, Frew Q, Lewis CJ.

2025-04-172 citations

10.1016/j.burns.2025.107500

Early Laser for Burn Scars (ELABS): protocol for a multi-centre randomised, controlled trial of both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars with Pulsed Dye Laser and standard care compared to standard care alone

M.P. Brewin, Sharon Docherty, Vanessa Heaslip, Katie Breheny, Jonathon Pleat et al. (6 authors)

NIHR Open Research2022-01-184 citations

10.3310/nihropenres.13234.1

Interventions

Both arms of the trial will be given standard care. The choice of standard care for this trial includes

moisturisation and massage up to 2 - 3 times per day (as directed by the Health Care Professional

where maintenance of hydration is required) ± silicone gel treatment ± pressure garments, dependent upon scar maturation. The control arm receives standard care only. The treatment arm receives a cou

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

16 Years to 110 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. NHS patients, with burn injuries >1% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA), are eligible if they have had skin grafts to, or have conservatively managed, burn wounds or donor sites that: 1.1. Have delayed healing of greater than 2 weeks. 1.2. Have potential for Hypertrophic Scarring (HS). 1.3 Are suitable for scar management therapy. 2. The scar is within 3 months of healing, where healing time-point is defined during wound management. The combination of excessive redness with increased thickness and/or hardness provides clear indication of HS. 3. Children aged 16 - 18 are able to participate with appropriate consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Unable to give informed consent. 2. Below 16 years of age. 3. Prone to keloid scarring.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Patient-rated Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at baseline and 6 months	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Measured at baseline and 6 months 1. QoL: Bristol CARe scale. 2. Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY): SF-12 Health Survey. 3. Scar colour: Colorimeter measurements of redness (DSMIII ColorMeter, Cortex Technology, Denmark). Objective measurement is compared to POSAS colour score. 4. MCID - A 7-point scale question evaluates improvement at 6 month follow-up, as judged by the participant.	—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed