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CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2014; 41(02): 111-115
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2014.41.2.111
Review Article

Analysis of Frequency of Use of Different Scar Assessment Scales Based on the Scar Condition and Treatment Method

Seong Hwan Bae
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
,
Yong Chan Bae
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
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Analysis of scars in various conditions is essential, but no consensus had been reached on the scar assessment scale to select for a given condition. We reviewed papers to determine the scar assessment scale selected depending on the scar condition and treatment method. We searched PubMed for articles published since 2000 with the contents of the scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale with a Journal Citation Report impact factor >0.5. Among them, 96 articles that conducted a scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale were reviewed and analyzed. The scar assessment scales were identified and organized by various criteria. Among the types of scar assessment scales, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was found to be the most frequently used scale. As for the assessment of newly developed operative scars, the POSAS was most used. Meanwhile, for categories depending on the treatment methods for preexisting scars, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used in 6 studies following a laser treatment, the POSAS was used in 7 studies following surgical treatment, and the POSAS was used in 7 studies following a conservative treatment. Within the 12 categories of scar status, the VSS showed the highest frequency in 6 categories and the POSAS showed the highest frequency in the other 6 categories. According to our reviews, the POSAS and VSS are the most frequently used scar assessment scales. In the future, an optimal, universal scar scoring system is needed in order to better evaluate and treat pathologic scarring.

Keywords

Cicatrix - Keloid - Visual analog scale

This work was supported by a 2-year research grant from Pusan National University.


This article was presented at the 3rd Research & Reconstructive forum on May 9-10, 2013 in Daegu, Korea.




Publication History

Received: 22 April 2013

Accepted: 23 July 2013

Article published online:
02 May 2022

© 2014. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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