Extracorporeal shock wave therapy may be a useful addition to the management of postburn scars.
Burn scars are a growing problem with the influx of wounded soldiers from our foreign wars. Hypertrophic and contracture scars are common after burn injuries and can cause functional and cosmetic deformities. For the most extensive of such scars, traditional methods, such as intralesional corticosteroid injection and pulsed-dye laser, are insufficient. Novel therapies currently under investigation include intralesional antimetabolites, fractionated laser treatments, and stem cell therapies. These investigators assessed the use of extracorporeal shock waves (ESWs) for managing postburn scars. ESWs share the technology used to break up kidney stones and have been effective for treating soft-tissue injuries.
Sixteen patients with trunk and extr…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory boardAmway
Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; Dermatologic Surgery; Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; Lasers in Medical Science; Skin Therapy Letter
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Health Care Finance Committee); American College of Mohs Surgery (Board of Directors); American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (Board of Directors)
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory boardAmway
Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; Dermatologic Surgery; Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; Lasers in Medical Science; Skin Therapy Letter
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Health Care Finance Committee); American College of Mohs Surgery (Board of Directors); American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (Board of Directors)