Burn Scars, Can Adding Stem Cells to Lasers Make a Change? — Split Scar RCT

Research team in Tehran, Iran — A double-blind RCT that divided the burn scar area of ​​the same patient into two, applying only a CO2 laser to one side and laser + SVF to the other, and compared the results after two months.

SC301 Clinic · Stem Cell Research Series · Single Paper Based · CO2 Fractional Laser + SVF Combination Injection

Original paper information:

Roohaninasab M, Khodadad F, Sadeghzadeh-Bazargan A, Atefi N, Zare S, Jafarzadeh A, Rahimi ST, Nouri M, Nilforoushzadeh MA, Behrangi E, Goodarzi A.

"Efficacy of fractional CO2 laser in combination with stromal vascular fraction (SVF) compared with fractional CO2 laser alone in the treatment of burn scars: A randomized controlled clinical trial"

Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 2023;14(1):269.

doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03480-8. PMID: 37742019.

Affiliation: Joint research by the Institute of Medical Sciences of Iran (IUMS), Tehran Medical University, and Shahid Beheshti Medical University

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Is laser alone sufficient for burn scars?

Burn scars cause not only physical discomfort Psychological and social burdenIt is often accompanied by...

Although CO2 fractional lasers are already a widely used method for treating burn scars, the research team Does the result improve when SVF is added here?I wanted to verify.

If the burn scars of the same patient are divided into two groups—one receiving only laser treatment, and the other receiving laser treatment combined with SVF—would the results differ? An Iranian research team investigated this using a double-blind method on 10 subjects.

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Study Design — Dividing the same patients and the same scars into two groups for comparison

one side

CO2 Fractional Laser Only

3 laser treatments

No additional injection

Opposite side (random assignment)

CO2 Fractional Laser + SVF

3 identical laser treatments

SVF intradermal injection combined

← Divide the same patient's burn scars into two and apply different treatments to each →

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2 months later — Improvement in both areas, the SVF addition group took a step further

Key Results

Laser-only area, Laser + SVF area VSS scores and various biometric indicators significantly improved in allThat's enough. However... VSS scores and melanin index (degree of pigmentation) were significantly better in the area treated with SVF than in the area treated with laser alone, and physician and patient satisfaction was also significantly higher in the group with added SVF.

1

Both areas improved significantly.

Even in areas treated exclusively with the laser Significant improvement in VSS, cutometer, R7 index, and tissue density ultrasound findingsIt showed significant improvement in VSS, epidermal thickness, and tissue density in the laser+SVF area as well. In other words, it was confirmed first that the laser itself is already an effective treatment.

2

VSS and pigmentation indices showed that the SVF added group was one level superior.

The VSS score and melanin index (degree of pigmentation measured by Mexameter) showed significantly better results in the area with added SVF compared to the area treated with laser alone.It showed that the SVF complemented the parts that could not be filled by the laser alone.

3

Both doctor and patient satisfaction were higher in the SVF add-on group.

Regarding the treatment area Both physician evaluation satisfaction and patient self-satisfaction were significantly higher in the area where SVF was added. It appeared. This supports the consistency of the results in that objective indicators and subjective satisfaction pointed in the same direction.

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Why does SVF act on burn scars when added to a laser?

Burn scars often involve a combination of dermal damage and pigmentation abnormalities. While the laser stimulates tissue regeneration, SVF is Direct supply of cell and growth factorsIt plays a role in complementing this.

Promotes tissue regeneration

The cell population contained in SVF supports the regeneration of damaged dermal tissue.

Pigmentation control

Alleviate the pigment abnormalities characteristic of burn scars by improving the melanin index.

Complementary relationship with laser

The regenerative stimulating effect of the laser and the cell supply of SVF work together.

Support for angiogenesis

Contributes to creating an environment for tissue regeneration through improved blood flow

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What this study says — Evidence to complement standard treatment

The significance of this study is It presented evidence that adding SVF to the CO2 laser, which has already established itself as a standard treatment, can lead to results one step better than the laser alone.The difference was particularly evident in terms of pigmentation improvement and satisfaction.

Given that burn scars last a long time, accumulating evidence for complementary options to be added to standard treatment is meaningful for patients. However, as this is a small-scale study, Confirmation through follow-up studies involving more patientsI need this.

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The conclusion reached by the paper

In the treatment of burn scars, CO2 fractional laser alone and laser + SVF combination All significant improvementsAlthough, VSS scores, pigmentation indices, and physician and patient satisfaction were significantly superior in the laser + SVF combination group.I did.

The research team concluded that the addition of SVF could help improve burn scar treatment outcomes and stated that larger-scale follow-up studies are needed.

Stories from SC301 Clinic

One of the common difficulties faced by those struggling with burn scars is that lasers alone do not improve hyperpigmentation. This study demonstrates that adding SVF can improve these issues as well.

SC301 Clinic continuously reviews the latest evidence for the treatment of various scars, including burn scars, and An approach that complements standard treatmentWe will incorporate this into our medical practice.