Clinical Scar Evaluation
If a scar forms, regardless of whether or not prophylactic measures were applied, it should be evaluated clinically. When assessing scars clinically, their size, colour, contour, height (thickness), surface area, surface texture, pliability, location, and subjective symptoms such as itching and pain, and also patient’s perception should be taken into account.
It has been indicated that this subjective component of the patient’s view of the scar is as important as objective aspect and it may be very influential in determining the patient’s quality of life (1). Assessment of the scars is a frequent topic of discussion among clinicians because there is no generally accepted evaluation tool, although various ones have been proposed (2).
None of these, however, seem suitable as a stand-alone tool, suggesting that combination of objective imaging tools and scar scales and questionnaires (patient reported outcome measures that we use in clinic) may be justified to achieve comprehensive documentation in everyday clinical practice (3).
1.Powers PS, Sarkar S, Goldgof DB, Cruse CW, Tsap LV. Scar assessment: current problems and future solutions. J Burn Care Rehabil (1999) 20:54–60; discussion 53. doi:10.1097/00004630-199901001-00011
2.Idriss N, Maibach HI. Scar assessment scales: a dermatologic overview. Skin Res Technol (2009) 15:1–5. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2008.00327.x
3.Poetschke J, Schwaiger H, Gauglitz GG. Current and emerging options for documenting scars and evaluating therapeutic progress. Dermatol Surg (2017) 43:25–36. doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000000698
