Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Long-term scar quality in burns with three distinct healing potentials: A multicenter prospective cohort study.
The laser Doppler imager is used in cases of indeterminate burn depth to accurately predict wound healing time at an early stage. The laser Doppler imager classifies burns into three estimated healing potentials as follows: high, <14 days; intermediate, 14-21 days; and low, >21 days. At this time, the relationship between these healing potentials and long-term scar quality is unknown. ⋯ Scar quality was very similar in high and intermediate healing potential wounds. No positive effects were found on scar quality or on healing time in surgically treated wounds with intermediate healing potential, advocating a conservative approach. Further studies should focus on the optimal timing of surgery in low healing potential wounds.