Clinical Analysis of Postburn Hypertrophic Scar/Keloid

Lee, Sang Hun; Lee, Ho Gyun; Kim, Jong Min

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cosmetic and functional sequelae of thermal injuries are receiving increased attention as more patients survive severe burns and develop wound problems. A major problem in patients surviving thermal injury is the development of hypertrophic burn scars.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was performed to determine the factors associated with an in creased risk of the development of postburn hypertrophic scar/keloid and therapeutic indications.
METHODS
The study population consisted of 103 cases with postburn wounds. The patient age, sex, previous hypertrophic scar/keloid history, family history, skin phototype, location, extent, depth, healing time of the burn wounds were recorded by records reviews interviews, and physical examinations and the relationship to the development of hypertrophic scar/keloid was analyzed.
RESULTS
374(65%) of the 577 burn sites developed hypertrophic scar/keloid, which was unrelated to age, sex, and shin phototype, but was related to burn depth involvement as well as to the healing time of the burn wounds. Grafted wounds had lower incidences of postburn hypertrophic scar/keloid than non-grafted burn wounds.
CONCLUSION
The prophylactic therapy to hypertrophic burn scars is recommended in patients with deep burn wounds and/or with long healing time.