Management of Hypertrophic Burn Scar: A Comparison between the Efficacy of Exercise-Physiotherapy and Pressure Garment-Silicone on Hypertrophic Scar

PURPOSE: Our study aims to investigate the effectiveness of other treatment methods for burn related scarring and to determine the possibility of their routine administration in similar clinical settings. METHODS: Through a prospective study, 66 patients were enrolled to receive either the conventional pressure garment therapy (PGT) and Silicone (control group) or exercise and physiotherapy (case group). Patients were visited regularly to be examined for the status of their scars’ regression, limbs’ dysfunction, and joint motion. Then, these two groups were compared to determine the efficacy of exercise and physiotherapy as an alternative to the conventional treatment with PGT. RESULTS: After about 20 months follow-up, decreased articular range of motion (ROM) was: 16 (51.5%) cases compared to 5 (15%) of controls had mild, 11 (35.5%) of the cases compared to 13 (39.5%) of the controls had moderate; and 4 (13%) of the cases compared to 15 (45.5%) of the controls had severe decreased ROM which revealed statistically significant difference (P<0.01). At the same time, Vancouver Scar Scale score was: 15 (48%) of the cases and 6 (18%) of the controls had mild Scar Scale, 12 (39%) of the cases and 14 (42.5%) of the controls had moderate score and 4 (3%) of the cases and 13 (39.5%) of the controls had severe score which revealed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that physical therapy andexercise are more effective than PGT, in management of burn hypertrophic scar, hence could be an alternative in cases that conventional therapy cannot be used for any reason.