Shockwave Therapy Reduces Scarring in Abdominoplasty Patients
Title of Study: Effects of Preoperative Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Scar Formation—A Pilot Study on 24 Subjects Undergoing Abdominoplasty Surgery
Authors: Elisabeth Russe MD, Gottfried Wechselberger MD, Karl Schwaiger MD, Klemens Heinrich MD, Michaela Hladik MD, Heike Traintinger MD
The study assessed the potential of extracorporeal shockwave therapy, ESWT, as a noninvasive treatment to minimize scar formation following abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck. Based on its known benefits in improving wound healing through enhanced blood flow and angiogenesis, researchers hypothesized that applying ESWT before surgery could lead to reduced scarring.
This prospective, controlled pilot study included 24 patients scheduled for abdominoplasty. Each patient received either the ESWT or a placebo treatment on different halves of the surgical site, employing an intrapatient control design to directly compare the effects within the same individual. The evaluation of scar formation was conducted at 6 and 12 weeks post-surgery, using 19 different scar assessment parameters, including the patient and observer scar assessment scale, POSAS, and the Vancouver scar scale.
The findings from the study indicated a promising trend towards the effectiveness of ESWT in scar management. At 6 weeks post-operation, 7 out of 19 parameters showed clear improvement with ESWT, with significant benefits observed in scar thickness and overall appearance. By the 12-week mark, improvements were noted in 8 parameters, reinforcing the initial positive results. The Vancouver scar scale specifically highlighted notable differences in scar thickness and the general impression of the scar, suggesting a potential aesthetic benefit from ESWT.
While the study presents encouraging preliminary data on the use of preoperative ESWT to reduce scar formation after abdominoplasty, further research with a larger sample size is required to statistically confirm these findings. If validated, ESWT could offer a significant advance in post-surgical care, enhancing patient outcomes by effectively managing and minimizing scarring.