title: The effects of conservative treatments on burn scars: A systematic review.
abstract: A variety of conservative treatments for burn scars are available, but there is no clear consensus on the evidence. The purpose of this study was to summarize the available literature on the effects of conservative treatments of burn scars in adults. RCTs and CCTs were sought in three databases, reference lists of retrieved articles and relevant reviews. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network scoring system was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. Information on the study characteristics, results and interventions was extracted. Twenty-two articles were included into the review and categorized in six topics: 5 on massage therapy, 4 on pressure therapy, 6 on silicone gel application, 3 on combined therapy of pressure and silicone, 3 on hydration and 1 on ultrasound. Pressure and silicone therapy are evidence-based conservative treatments of hypertrophic scar formation after a burn producing clinically relevant improvement of scar thickness, redness and pliability. Massage therapy could have a positive result on scar pliability, pain and pruritus, but with less supporting evidence. The use of moisturizers and lotions could have an effect on itching, but the findings are contradictory. Of all other non-invasive treatments such as splinting, casting, physical activity, exercise and mobilizations no RCTs or CCTs were found.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; UZ Leuven, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation & Burns Center, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: mieke.anthonissen@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anthonissen
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Kinesiology, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: daniel.daly@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: thaisjanssens@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Thaïs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; UZ Leuven, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation & Burns Center, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; AZ Maastricht, Department of Plastic Surgery, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: eric.vandenkerckhove@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van den Kerckhove
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D058128:Compression Bandages; D000072700:Conservative Treatment; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels
keywords: Burn scar; Conservative treatment; Systematic review