title: Conventional diamond fraise vs manual spot dermabrasion with drywall sanding screen for scars from skin cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To directly compare cosmetic improvement and postoperative sequelae resulting from dermabrasion of surgical scars with conventional motor-powered diamond fraise vs manual dermabrasion with medium-grade drywall sanding screen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with conventional diamond fraise dermabrasion to one half of the scar and manual dermabrasion with a drywall sanding screen to the other half in a prospective, comparative clinical study. Blinded observers assessed clinical variables during a 6-month follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital/cancer center-based cutaneous surgery unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one healthy volunteers, Fitzpatrick skin type I to III, with contour irregularities resulting from granulation (7 patients) or reconstruction (14 patients) after skin cancer excision.
  
  
  METHODS
  One half of the patient's scar was treated with motor-powered diamond fraise dermabrasion and the other half was treated with manual dermabrasion with medium-grade drywall sanding screen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correction of contour, scarline visibility, time to reepithelialization, presence or absence of milia, degree of postoperative erythema, hypertrophic scarring, patients' subjective reports of postoperative pain, and presence of pigmentary changes were observed for both methods. Standardized scoring systems were used to quantify outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the standardized scoring systems, no differences were found between the 2 methods at any point. In addition, no significant differences were found between the methods for any measure at any of the time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both dermabrasion techniques are equally effective in improving the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Comprehensive Cancer Center and Health System, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: Montgomery
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillard
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Rodney L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Darrell J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fader
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003869:Dermabrasion; D018130:Diamond / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018130:Diamond