Clinical efficacy of utilizing Ultrapulse CO 2 combined with fractional CO 2 laser for the treatment of hypertrophic scars in Asians-A prospective clinical evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophic scarring is seen regularly. Tissue penetration of laser energy into hypertrophic scars using computer defaults from some lasers may be insufficient and penetration not enough. We have developed a treatment with an interrupted laser "drilling" by the Ultrapulse CO2 (Manual Fractional Technology, MFT) and, a second pass, with fractional CO2 . The MFT with fractional CO2 lasers to treat hypertrophic scars is evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 patients with hypertrophic scars had three sessions of MFT with fractional CO2 laser at 3-month intervals. Evaluations made before and 6 months after the 3rd treatment: (1) the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), (2) the University of North Carolina (UNC) Scar Scale, and (3) a survey of patient satisfaction.

RESULTS: All data were analyzed using a t-test before and after treatment. The VSS score decreased from 9.35 to 3.12 (P<.0001), and the UNC Scar Scale score decreased from 8.03 to 1.62 (P<.0001). The overall satisfaction rate was 92%. No long-term complications occurred in the clinical trial.

CONCLUSION: The interrupted laser drilling by MFT and a fractional CO2 laser had profound effects on the hypertrophic scars treated. It works by increasing the penetration depth of the CO2 laser in the scar tissue, exerting more precise effects on the hypertrophic scars. MFT combined with fractional CO2 laser has the potential to be a major advance in the treatment of hypertrophic scars.