{"title":"Utility of customized 3D compression mask with pressure sensors on facial burn scars: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.burns.2024.05.021","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><span>A pressure of approximately 15–25 mmHg is used for effective compression therapy<span> to prevent and treat hypertrophic scar formation in patients with burns. However, conventional facial </span></span>compression garments<span> present challenges owing to inadequate pressure distribution in curved areas such as the cheeks, around the mouth, and the slope of the nose. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a custom-made 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors to treat facial burn scars.</span></p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>This single-blinded, prospective randomized controlled trial<span><span> was conducted between May and October 2023, involving 48 burn scars in 12 inpatients with facial burns. We created the custom-made 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors, inner lined with biocompatible silicon, and a harness system using </span>3D printing technology, which can continuously monitor whether an appropriate pressure of 15–25 mmHg maintains. The biological scar properties, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores in patients with facial burns were assessed before applying the compression mask and garment and at 4 and 12 weeks after application.</span></p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Pre-application assessment of biological scar properties, VSS, and POSAS revealed no statistically significant differences between the 3D mask and control groups (<em>p</em> > 0.05 for all). Throughout the 12-week application, skin hydration and scar thickness significantly increased (<em>p</em> < 0.001) and reduced (<em>p</em> = 0.010), respectively<em>,</em> in the 3D mask group compared to the control group. Additionally, significant improvements in scar pliability (p = 0.004) and height (p = 0.009) of VSS, itching (<em>p</em> = 0.047), scar stiffness (<em>p</em> = 0.001), thickness (<em>p</em> = 0.011), and irregularity (<em>p</em> < 0.001) of POSAS-patient component, and scar thickness (<em>p</em> = 0.001), pliability (<em>p</em><span> = 0.012), and surface area (</span><em>p</em> = 0.027) of the POSAS-observer component were observed in 3D mask group throughout the 12-week application compared to the control group.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The customized 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors significantly improved scar thickness, skin hydration, and various assessment scale parameters throughout the 12-week application.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":50717,"journal":{"name":"Burns","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Burns","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305417924001748","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
A pressure of approximately 15–25 mmHg is used for effective compression therapy to prevent and treat hypertrophic scar formation in patients with burns. However, conventional facial compression garments present challenges owing to inadequate pressure distribution in curved areas such as the cheeks, around the mouth, and the slope of the nose. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a custom-made 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors to treat facial burn scars.
Methods
This single-blinded, prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted between May and October 2023, involving 48 burn scars in 12 inpatients with facial burns. We created the custom-made 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors, inner lined with biocompatible silicon, and a harness system using 3D printing technology, which can continuously monitor whether an appropriate pressure of 15–25 mmHg maintains. The biological scar properties, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores in patients with facial burns were assessed before applying the compression mask and garment and at 4 and 12 weeks after application.
Results
Pre-application assessment of biological scar properties, VSS, and POSAS revealed no statistically significant differences between the 3D mask and control groups (p > 0.05 for all). Throughout the 12-week application, skin hydration and scar thickness significantly increased (p < 0.001) and reduced (p = 0.010), respectively, in the 3D mask group compared to the control group. Additionally, significant improvements in scar pliability (p = 0.004) and height (p = 0.009) of VSS, itching (p = 0.047), scar stiffness (p = 0.001), thickness (p = 0.011), and irregularity (p < 0.001) of POSAS-patient component, and scar thickness (p = 0.001), pliability (p = 0.012), and surface area (p = 0.027) of the POSAS-observer component were observed in 3D mask group throughout the 12-week application compared to the control group.
Conclusion
The customized 3D compression mask equipped with pressure sensors significantly improved scar thickness, skin hydration, and various assessment scale parameters throughout the 12-week application.
期刊介绍:
Burns aims to foster the exchange of information among all engaged in preventing and treating the effects of burns. The journal focuses on clinical, scientific and social aspects of these injuries and covers the prevention of the injury, the epidemiology of such injuries and all aspects of treatment including development of new techniques and technologies and verification of existing ones. Regular features include clinical and scientific papers, state of the art reviews and descriptions of burn-care in practice.
Topics covered by Burns include: the effects of smoke on man and animals, their tissues and cells; the responses to and treatment of patients and animals with chemical injuries to the skin; the biological and clinical effects of cold injuries; surgical techniques which are, or may be relevant to the treatment of burned patients during the acute or reconstructive phase following injury; well controlled laboratory studies of the effectiveness of anti-microbial agents on infection and new materials on scarring and healing; inflammatory responses to injury, effectiveness of related agents and other compounds used to modify the physiological and cellular responses to the injury; experimental studies of burns and the outcome of burn wound healing; regenerative medicine concerning the skin.