Ablative Fractional Laser Resurfacing for theTreatment of a Third-degree Burn

Burn scars are the result of wound healing following a partial-thickness or full-thickness thermal injury. Thermal injury can frequently result in extensive scarring, which may have profound psychologic impact on the victim, serving as a visible and palpable reminder of a traumatic event. Standard treatments for scars include the use of skin grafts, intralesional steroid injections, and pulsed-dye laser treatments. The authors have previously described successful treatment of a burn scar with nonablative fractional resurfacing.1 Ablative fractional lasers may offer burn patients advantages over nonablative techniques, including improved function and cosmetic outcomes. In addition, ablative fractional laser may require fewer treatments, and therefore, be a more cost-effective treatment option for patients. The authors report the use of fractional ablative laser for the treatment of a disfiguring scar that was more than 50 years old. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this technology for the treatment of a scar resulting from a third-degree burn in the literature. The demonstrated successful outcome in this case patient may indicate a progessive treatment option for many patients who have been disfigured by these types of thermal injuries.