Reliable scar scoring system to assess photographs of burn patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several scar-scoring scales exist to clinically monitor burn scar development and maturation. Although scoring scars through direct clinical examination is ideal, scars must sometimes be scored from photographs. No scar scale currently exists for the latter purpose.

Materials and methods

We modified a previously described scar scale (Yeong et al., J Burn Care Rehabil 1997) and tested the reliability of this new scale in assessing burn scars from photographs. The new scale consisted of three parameters as follows: scar height, surface appearance, and color mismatch. Each parameter was assigned a score of 1 (best) to 4 (worst), generating a total score of 3-12. Five physicians with burns training scored 120 representative photographs using the original and modified

SUBMITTER: Mecott GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4508235 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature