Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of laser and secure wound-closure system (Tension reducer) in the treatment of postoperative scarring after tension incision.
Methods: A retrospectively observational study was conducted. Twenty-six patients who underwent surgical treatment in our department between June 2017 and December 2021 were selected, and those treated with laser and tension reducer were treated as a combined treatment group, and those treated with laser were treated as a conventional treatment group. Fifteen patients in the conventional group were treated with the pulsed dye laser and CO₂ fractional laser at 1– 2 month intervals. Eleven people in the combined treatment group were treated with the laser in addition to a tension reducer for 3– 6 months. The scar width, scar thickness, scar hardness, pruritus score, modified Vancouver scar scale and complication rates between the two treatment modalities were compared between the two groups at 6 months postoperatively.
Results: The scar thickness, scar hardness and modified Vancouver scar scale of 1.25 (0.14, 1.90) mm, 31.80 (21.00, 37.20) HA, (6.00 ± 2.17) in patients in the combined treatment group were less than those of patients in the conventional treatment group of 5.50 (4.00, 11.50) mm, 42.60 (32.50, 47.00) HA, (8.25± 1.91), (Z=2.883, 2.718, t=2.904, p< 0.05). The scar width and pruritus score in the combined treatment group, were 8.00 (5.00, 18.00) mm and 0 (0, 1) respectively, while the scar score and pruritus score in the conventional treatment group, were 5.50 (4.00, 11.50) mm respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The complication rate was 55% in the combined treatment group and no adverse reactions occurred in the control group.
Conclusion: Sequential laser combined with tension reducer treatment can effectively inhibit the proliferation of postoperative tension incision scar.
Keywords: tension reducer, tension surgical incision, scar, CO₂ LASER, pulsed dye laser