[Assessment of surgical scars: a quantitative method].
OBJECTIVE
To describe an objective assessment method, based on quantifiable criteria, and compare it with subjective patient and surgeon assessments.


METHODS
136 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were prospectively analyzed. Surgical scars were evaluated six months after surgery, with measurements of widening, hypertrophy and retraction. An objective 4-type scar classification (A, B, C and D) and a subjective 10-point surgeon and patient-assessed score were used. The results were compared.


RESULTS
The surgeon's subjective assessment was different between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.021) and between groups 2 and 3B (p = 0.011). Patients' assessments did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.283). The objective assessment gave better results for groups 1 and 3B, although without significance. The method used for objective assessment was effective and the surgeon's mean scores differed between the groups (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment using the quantitative method was adequate to classify surgical scars, and agreed more with reality than a satisfaction-based subjective impression.
Vidigal
Fernando Mendonça
FM
Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina, UFMG.
Petroianu
Andy
A
D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies