title: Comparison the efficacy of ablative CO2 laser and fractional CO2 laser on the healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis scars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to compare ablative CO2 laser with fractional CO2 laser on healing of the wound and the size of cutaneous leishmaniasis scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomized clinical trial study was done on 120 patients in two groups evaluated in Sedigheh Tahereh Hospital in Isfahan. The patients in case group underwent one session ablative CO2 laser for treatment of leishmaniasis scars and the patients in control group underwent six 3-weeks interval sessions fractional CO2 laser for treatment of leishmaniasis scars. All cases were evaluated from size and other aspects of scar by a questionnaire, and before and 6 months after photos were evaluated by blinded dermatologist. The data collected in the check list was then analyzed by t-test and Chi-square with SPSS 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 60 people in case group and 60 in control group. The mean age was 27.21 ± 11.2. Our results show that fractional CO2 laser is better than ablative CO2 laser in various aspect of treatment of leishmaniasis scars (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fractional CO2 laser is better than ablative CO2 laser in variants aspect of treatment of leishmaniasis scars.
authors.affiliation: Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nilforoushzadeh
authors.affiliation: General Physician, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minaravesh
authors.affiliation: Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaffary
authors.affiliation: Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.affiliation: Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haftbaradaran
keywords: CO2 ablative laser; fractional CO2 laser; leishmaniasis scars; treatment