Early outcomes of Smart Scar Care Pad use in children with hypertrophic burn scars (22839)
Rhianydd Thomas
1
2
,
Stephanie Wicks
1
,
Claire Toose
1
,
Andrew Holland
1
,
Verity Pacey
2
- Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Aim: The Smart Scar Care Pad (SSCP) is an innovative, conservative treatment for burn scars. It provides compression and occlusion through an inner silicone layer with an outer layer of silicone studs. The aim of this study was to determine early outcomes of SSCP use in children with hypertrophic burn scars.
Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Thirty children (median age seven years, IQR 10) with hypertrophic burn scars >2cm diameter were recruited at median two months post burn (IQR 2). Median therapist prescribed SSCP use was 12 hours overnight (IQR 0), with additional compression (custom garment or tubular bandage) used by all children. On recruitment and 3-6 months following SSCP commencement, scars were assessed using POSAS 3.0, ultrasound (thickness), cutometer (pliability) and mexameter (vascularity, pigmentation). Parents also completed the Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile. Reported adverse reactions and barriers were collected at clinical reviews.
Results: At recruitment, compared to contralateral unaffected skin, scars were significantly less pliable (gross elasticity mean difference -0.33mm, 95% CI -0.38- -0.27, p<0.001), with greater vascularity (erythema index mean difference 155.46, 95% CI 114.70-196.22, p<0.001), and thickness (mean difference 0.19mm, 95% CI 0.14-0.24, p<0.001). Median POSAS 3.0 observer overall score was moderate. At median 3 months (IQR 0) post SSCP commencement, there were improvements in objective and subjective scar quality, but no statistically significant changes. Minimal reactions or barriers were reported.
Conclusion: The SSCP is well tolerated with early outcomes of scar progress promising.