Combination of Full-Field and Fractional Erbium: YAG Laser for Nonhealing Wounds.

Caliskan, E. and Botsali, A.
Dermatologic Surgery, 48(1), pp.114-119, 2022.

Background:

To evaluate the outcomes of a heterogeneous group of patients with chronic ulcer receiving a combination regimen of full-field and fractional erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (erbium: YAG) laser applications.

Materials and Methods:

Enrolled in this study were patients with chronic ulcer who had received at least 2 erbium: YAG laser sessions. Fractional applications followed the initial full-field application for debridement. The therapeutic outcomes were evaluated by serial photographs. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients achieving complete re-epithelialization at the first year.

Results:

Forty-three treatment regions from 23 patients between 40 and 90 years (F: M = 11:12; age: 60.3 ± 15.5 years, mean ± SD) were eligible. The ulcers' median duration was 24 months (min–max: 2–240 months). The median number of laser sessions was 5 (min–max: 2–12). Of arterial (n = 13), immunologic (n = 9), venous (n = 8), diabetic (n = 8), and mechanical ulcers (n = 5), the primary outcome measure was achieved in 69%, 77.7%, 75%, 88.8%, and 100% of the groups, respectively. C

Conclusion:

 Full-field erbium: YAG laser applications preserve the vascular architecture and enable delicate debridement. Ongoing maintenance fractional laser sessions promote wound healing. Similar to the previous reports of erbium: YAG laser in venous and diabetic ulcers, arterial ulcers, and ulcers of immunologic origin demonstrated an objective treatment response along with different adjuvant approaches.

Keyword: wound healing

Combination of Full-Field and Fractional Erbium: YAG Laser for Nonhealing Wounds.