The Role of Fractional Vascular Laser Therapy in the Management of Burn Scars

May 11, 2026 updated by: Dr. Sarvesh Logsetty, University of Manitoba

While the literature tends to support the use of laser therapy in the management of burn scars, there is a definite lack of appropriately powered, randomized controlled trials. Laser therapy can be quite expensive when compared to other treatment modalities for burn scars, and while promising, its true usefulness has yet to be conclusively demonstrated. For this reason, our assessing the effects of fractional vascular lasers on burn scars. It has been hypothesized that the fractional vascular lasers work on mature scars to decrease scar formation, and the fractional laser works on scar that is quiescent to promote remodelling. The retexturing/ resurfacing of the laser theoretically can decrease the visibility of the mesh pattern created by meshed split thickness skin graft).

Objective:

To determine the benefit of fractional vascular laser treatment in improving burn scar height, texture, vascularity and pliability in late burn scars.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

6

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Manitoba
      • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3A 1R9
        • Recruiting
        • University of Manitoba
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sarvesh Logsetty, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • living in Winnipeg
  • burn scar 6-12 months old
  • Fitzpatrick skin type I-III
  • thermal burn scar on trunk or extremities

Exclusion Criteria:

  • open wound

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Proximal
location of the scar proximal to heart
Device: Fractional Vascular Laser
laser energy will be applied to one of 2 sites (proximal or distal) depending on randomization result
Experimental: Distal
location of scar distal to heart
Device: Fractional Vascular Laser
laser energy will be applied to one of 2 sites (proximal or distal) depending on randomization result

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
reduction in scar appearance
Time Frame: every 3 weeks to 15 weeks
examine with modified Vancouver Scar Scale
every 3 weeks to 15 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Manitoba

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: S Logsetty, MD, University of Manitoba

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 12, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 12, 2012

First Posted (Estimated)

June 14, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 11, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • B2011: 075

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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