Objective evaluation of the effect of autologous platelet concentrate on post-operative scarring in deep burns

Introduction

The healing of grafted areas after surgical treatment of deep burns frequently generates mutilating scars, and rises the risk of subsequent scar hypertrophy. Scar assessment based on clinical evaluation is inherently subjective, which stimulates search for objective means of evaluation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the effect of using autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in combination with split thickness skin grafting (STSG) on scarring processes following surgery of deep burns as compared with application of STSG alone.

Method

Selected viscoelastic properties of 38 scars on 23 patients in total were examined using the Cutometer MPA 580 under controlled conditions for long-term outcomes 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery following deep burns.

Results

The findings of this study suggest that the STSG + APC combination reduces the time of scar viscoelastic properties recovery as compared with application of STSG alone. This was statistically significant for viscoelastic parameters R₂ and Q₁.

Conclusion

APC has been advocated to enhance scarring after surgery of deep dermal and full thickness burns. We objectively demonstrated that the viscoelastic properties of scars treated with STSG + APC combination return more rapidly to the plateau state than areas treated with STSG only.