According to the American Burn Association, each year in the United States, 40,000 cases require hospitalization with an estimated annual expenditure of over $1 billion in associated costs. Burns are dynamic injuries that progress over time, with extension of depth and size of the burn. Recent investigations at Stony Brook University using tangential debridement, demonstrate that early removal of burn eschar can promote healing. However, the central face, ears, hands and feet, enveloped by thin skin, provide a challenging environment for tangential debridement to experienced burn surgeons. Furthermore, tangential debridement often sacrifices viable tissue and impedes optimal engraftment. Here, data from a pilot study demonstrates that ArF excimer laser irradiation removes burn eschar and enhances healing at 10 days post-burn. ArF excimer laser debridement is self-terminating and preserves underlying and adjacent perfused tissue. Potentially, this modality would be ideal for the complex curvilinear structures of the body.
By: Atulya Prasad , Katarzyna M. Sawicka , Kelly B. Pablo , Lauren K. Macri , Jerome Felsenstein , James J. Wynne , Richard A. F. Clark
Published in: RC25590 in 2016
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