Clinical efficacy of ablative laser combined with pulsed dye laser in the treatment of pathological scars: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Objective

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ablative laser combined with pulsed dye laser to treat pathological scars.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify all blind, randomized, controlled trials of ablative laser and pulsed dye laser for treating pathological scars. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were used. All research on ablative laser combined with PDL in treating pathological scars with ablative laser or no treatment as controls were included in the meta-analysis. The retrieved studies' reference lists were thoroughly examined.

Results

POSAS and VSS were used as evaluation criteria in seven studies involving 189 patients. Effect of combined laser group therapy (−1.259 95% confidence interval, −1.515 to −1.003; p < 0.0001). The difference between the combined treatment and control groups was (−1.375; 95% CI, −1.727 to −1.023; p < 0.0001) and (−1.150; 95% CI, −1.523 to −0.777; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Ablative laser combined with PDL is more effective and safer than ablative laser or PDL alone in the treatment of pathological scars.