Dr Maria Shilova1,2, Dr Orlando Flores Guerrero3, Grace Xu2, A/Prof Bronwyn Griffin1,2, Prof Roy Kimble1
1Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, 2Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, 3Coaniquem, , Chile
Abstract:
Introduction
Laser technology has been embraced by the burns community worldwide as an effective and low-risk method of scar management. Clinical trials, cohort studies and case series demonstrate good clinical outcomes with laser treatment of scars, but also demonstrate a great heterogeneity in how lasers are used. There is variation in laser setting selection, dressing choice, the use of adjuct laser-assisted drug delivery and many other aspects of operative practice. Furthermore, there is variation in the level of detail used to describe operative technique in publications. This study aims to investigate how laser is used in practice in different centres via an international survey.
Methods
A survey was co-designed in collaboration with experienced laser clinicians to investigate various aspects of the operative and post-operative procedure when using laser to treat scars. The survey was translated into four languages by native speaker clinicians, cross-culturally validated and distributed to centres in Australasia, the United States, Canada, Egypt, South Africa, Chile, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. Data collection will also be undertaken in Chile.
Results
The survey has been distributed to centres in Australasia, Europe, North America, China and South Africa. Thus far, a data set of 18 responses has been collected, with further participation anticipated from centres in South America.
Discussion
This global survey will illustrate the operative practices of different clinicians in using laser to treat scars. This investigation reflects everyday practice in these centres, and will facilitate sharing of operative technique and inform future research directions in the laser treatment of scars.
Biography:
Dr Maria Shilova is a Principal House Officer at the Paediatric Surgery, Urology, Burns and Trauma Unit at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. She is currently undertaking a Master of Philosophy research project in creating an evidence-based algorithm for using laser to treat hypertrophic scars.