Ablative fractional resurfacing for burn scar management affects the number and type of elective surgical reconstructive procedures, hospital admission patterns as well as length of stay

摘要: Abstract Background Reconstructive surgery remains the main approach to address burn scar contractures. Ablative fractional resurfacing is an increasingly popular tool for severe management, but its effect on overall burns reconstructive case-mix, operating time and patterns of hospital admission have not been reported. Methods Retrospective analysis administrative data from September 2013 June 2017 was performed evaluating these effects ablative CO2 laser (CO2-AFL). Results The total number acute patients treated at CRGH increased substantially over this timeframe, resulting in 412 elective procedures including 82 before 330 after introducing CO2-AFL. proportion traditional non-laser dropped considerably 23.9% about 2.5 years following CO2-AFL introduction. This change had a profound LOS with average being 1.96 days 0.36 days CO2-AFL-procedures (p  Conclusion AFL profoundly affects case mix replacement conventional operations favour AFL-procedures. results reductions anaesthetic times. Consequently, use management could potentially reduce costs associated reconstruction.