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PDL and Fractional Photothermolysis for Postsurgical Scars

The Effect of Combined Treatment of PDL and Fractional Photothermolysis on the Cosmetic Appearance of Postsurgical Scars

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03057964
Enrollment
76
Registered
2017-02-20
Start date
2017-03-01
Completion date
2027-12-01
Last updated
2026-07-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Scar

Brief summary

This is a two part study to evaluate the efficacy of early combined PDL (pulsed dye laser) and fractional photothermolysis in the cosmetic improvement of post surgical scars.All subjects will be offered at the time of the dermatologic procedure, an option to treat the post surgical scars with early combined PDL and fractional photothermolysis. Part A is a non-randomized study design and subjects will have the choice of whether or not they will receive treatment. In part B, subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 treatment vs. control design. The experimental group will have a total of 6 visits: 1 standard of care suture removal visit, 3 treatment visits and 2 follow up visits. The control group will have 3 visits: 1 standard of care suture removal visit and 2 follow up visits. Subjects currently living in the Chicago metropolitan area and meet inclusion/exclusion criteria will be considered for enrollment. This study is a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of this procedure.

Interventions

DEVICEPDL (Pulsed Dye Laser)

For those in the experimental group, at each treatment visit, the subject's scar will be treated with PDL followed by fractional photothermolysis.

DEVICEFractional Photothermolysis Laser

For those in the experimental group, at each treatment visit, the subject's scar will be treated with PDL followed by fractional photothermolysis.

Sponsors

Northwestern University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Males or females ≥ 18 years old 2. Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI 3. Subjects are in good health as judged by the investigator. 4. Subjects who have received dermatologic surgery procedure of the trunk or extremities closed with complex primary closure with subcuticular running suture removed at 2-3 weeks. 5. Subjects applying topical retinoids, must discontinue one week prior to treatment. 6. Subjects who are willing and have the ability to understand and provide informed consent for participation in the study and are able to communicate with the investigator.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of recurrent facial or labial herpes simplex infection 2. Subjects applying topical retinoids, must discontinue one week prior to treatment. 3. Subjects with a history of hypertrophic scars or keloids 4. Pregnant or breast feeding 5. Uncooperative patients or patients with neurological disorders who are incapable of following directions or who are predictably unwilling to return for follow-up examinations. 6. Subjects who are unable to understand the protocol or give informed consent. 7. Subjects who in the opinion of the investigator are likely to have exaggerated scarring with laser treatments.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in score of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS)Baseline and 6 MonthsThe POSAS is a series of questions about the scar with a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 as "not at all" or "normal skin" and 10 as "very much so" or "very different".

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMurad Alam, MD

Northwestern University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 2, 2026