title: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: An Emerging Treatment Modality for Retracting Scars of the Hands.
abstract: Prolonged and abnormal scarring after trauma, burns and surgical procedures often results in a pathologic scar. We evaluated the efficacy of unfocused shock wave treatment, alone or in combination with manual therapy, on retracting scars on the hands. Scar appearance was assessed by means of the modified Vancouver Scar Scale; functional hand mobility was evaluated using a range-of-motion scale, whereas a visual analogue score was implemented for detecting any improvements in referred pain. Additionally, biopsy specimens were collected for clinico-pathologic correlation. For each active treatment group, statistically significant improvements in modified Vancouver Scar Scale were recorded as early as five treatment sessions and confirmed 2 wk after the last treatment session. Analogous results were observed when assessing pain and range of movement. Histopathological examination revealed significant increases in dermal fibroblasts in each active treatment group, as well as in neoangiogenetic response and type-I collagen concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Oral and Biotechnology, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: saggini@unich.it.
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saggini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saggini
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Sapienza" University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.affiliation: School of Specialties in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dodaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Sapienza" University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cigna
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Sapienza" University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Sapienza" University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Grazia
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Sapienza" University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scuderi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Collagen; ESWT; Histopathologic features; Regeneration; Resolution; Retracting scar; Scarring