title: Erbium:YAG laser treatment of post-burn scars: potentials and limitations.
abstract: Erbium:YAG lasers are successfully used to treat a variety of epidermal and dermal lesions, including rhytides, dyschromias, and certain types of scars. To date, however, no report has focused on the experiences with this laser in reconstructive burn surgery. Since 2001, the Erbium:YAG laser has become an integral part of the treatment of postburn scars at the Berlin Burn Center. This paper presents the techniques applied and clinical experiences obtained. In addition, a new stripe technique is introduced, which avoids healing disturbances in scars following deep burns. In conclusion, the Erbium:YAG laser has proven to be a valuable supplementary tool for the improvement of cosmetically disturbing mild postburn scars. It is particularly handy in areas difficult to treat, such as the eyes, nose, lips, and fingers. The individual advantages of the Erbium:YAG laser, other laser systems, and dermabrasion for the treatment of burn scars are compared in a brief survey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Center, Cologne City Hospital, Teaching Hospital of University of Witten-Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Aletta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eberlein
authors.forename: Hadrian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schepler
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spilker
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altmeyer
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004871:Erbium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004871:Erbium