Efficacy of fractional CO(2) laser in combination with stromal vascular fraction (SVF) compared with fractional CO(2) laser alone in the treatment of burn scars: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The appearance of skin scars is known as one of the main side effects of skin burns. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF), as a rich source of cell populations with tissue regeneration properties, plays an important role in the healing of skin lesions. Fractional CO(2) lasers have occupied a special place in treating skin lesions, particularly skin scars, since their introduction. Our study aimed to compare the combination of SVF and fractional CO(2) laser with fractional CO(2) laser alone in the treatment of burn scars. METHOD: This double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on ten patients with burn scars that were treated three times with a fractional CO(2) laser at site of burn lesions, and one of the two areas studied was randomly injected with SVF. Two months after completion of the procedure, patients' scars were assessed using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), biometric criteria, and physician and patient satisfaction ratings. RESULTS: The results confirmed a significant improvement in VSS, cutometry, R7 criteria, complete density sonography, and skin density sonography in the fractional CO(2) laser-treated group. The VSS criteria, epidermal thickness sonography, complete density sonography, and skin density sonography in the group treated with the combination of fractional CO(2) laser and SVF also showed significant improvement. The VSS criteria and melanin index of Mexameter in the group treated with SVF in combination with fractional CO(2) laser were significantly better than the group treated with fractional CO(2) laser alone. Also, physician and patient satisfaction in the group treated with SVF injection in combination with fractional CO(2) laser was significantly higher than the other group. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the efficacy of SVF injection in combination with fractional CO(2) laser in the treatment of burn scars and can be considered as a treatment option for better management of these lesions. Trial registration: The study protocol was retrospectively registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with code: IRCT20210515051307N1, Registration date: 2021-11-14, URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/56337.