Efficacy of Fractional Micro-plasma Radio Frequency Technology in Treating Hypertrophic Burn Scars in Asian Patients Under General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Study of 104 Cases

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 May 14. doi: 10.1007/s00266-024-04018-w. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Background: Laser and other energy devices have been widely used in the minimally invasive treatment of scars. Among various technologies, Fractional Micro-Plasma Radio Frequency Technology (FMRT) has gained extensive consensus in the treatment of various types of scars and skin disorders, such as wrinkles, skin laxity, and pigmentation.

Objective: This study is a retrospective clinical trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness and safety of FMRT for hypertrophic burn scars treatment in the Asian population under different anesthesia methods.

Methods: A total of 104 patients with hypertrophic burn scars treated in our department from May 2018 to May 2022 were selected. Scar assessment scales were applied to observe changes in scars before and after FMRT treatment.

Results: A prospective study of 104 patients found that female patients were more likely to undergo laser treatment under general anesthesia (P < 0.05). Postoperative VSS total score, VSS total score difference, and immediate postoperative pain score were all better with general anesthesia compared to local anesthesia (P < 0.05). There were more significant improvements in scar color, vascular distribution, and flexibility (P < 0.05). When comparing the treatment outcomes between females and males, it was found that general anesthesia patients were superior to local anesthesia patients in terms of color score, vascular distribution score, flexibility score, and postoperative VSS total score 6 months after the final treatment. General anesthesia patients had a shorter hospital stay. Overall treatment evaluation was better for female general anesthesia patients than male patients.

Conclusion: General anesthesia combined with FMRT is an effective, safe, and more acceptable treatment method for hypertrophic burn scars in the Asian population.

Bullet points: In the Asian population, the combined use of general anesthesia and Fractional Micro-Plasma Radio Frequency Technology (FMRT) is an effective, safe, and accepted method for treating skin scars.

Level of evidence ii: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Hypertrophic burn scar; Micro-plasma radio frequency; Scar.