title: The effectiveness of pressure therapy (15-25 mmHg) for hypertrophic burn scars: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Although pressure therapy (PT) represents the standard care for prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scar (HS) from burns, its practice is largely based on empirical evidence and its effectiveness remains controversial. To clarify the effect of PT (15-25 mmHg) for HS, we performed the systematic review and meta-analysis. Several electronic databases were screened to identify related randomized controlled trials (RCTs). 12 RCTs involving 710 patients with 761 HS resulting from burn injuries were included. Compared with non/low-PT, cases treated with PT (15-25 mmHg) showed significant differences in Vancouver Scar Scale score (MD = -0.58, 95% CI = -0.78--0.37), thickness (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.40--0.11), brightness (MD = 2.00, 95% CI = 0.59-3.42), redness (MD = -0.79, 95% CI = -1.52--0.07), pigmentation (MD = -0.16, 95% CI = -0.32--0.00) and hardness (SMD = -0.65, 95% CI = -1.07--0.23). However, there was no difference in vascularity (MD = 0.03, 95% CI = -0.43-0.48). Our analysis indicated that patients with HS who were managed with PT (15-25 mmHg) showed significant improvements. Due to limitations, more large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm our findings and the side-effects of the PT may also need to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.|Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jin-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Duo
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: De-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.|Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome