Yenyuwadee S.Achavanuntakul P.Phisalprapa P.Levin M.K.Saokaew S.Kanchanasurakit S.Manuskiatti W.Mahidol University2024-02-082024-02-082024-01-01Acta Dermato-Venereologica Vol.104 (2024)00015555https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/95562Utilization of lasers and energy-based devices for surgical scar minimization has been substantially evalua-ted in placebo-controlled trials. The aim of this study was to compare reported measures of efficacy of lasers and energy-based devices in clinical trials in preventing surgical scar formation in a systematic review and network meta-analyses. Five electronic databa-ses, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library, were searched to retrieve rele-vant articles. The search was limited to randomized controlled trials that reported on clinical outcomes of surgical scars with treatment initiation no later than 6 months after surgery and a follow-up period of at least 3 months. A total of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 482 participants and 671 postsurgical wounds were included in the network meta-analyses. The results showed that the most efficacious treatments were achieved using low-level laser therapy) (weighted mean difference –3.78; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) –6.32, –1.24) and pulsed dye laser (weighted mean difference –2.46; 95% CI –4.53, –0.38). Nevertheless, low-level laser therapy and pulsed dye laser demonstrated comparable outcomes in surgical scar minimization (weighted mean difference –1.32, 95% CI –3.53, 0.89). The findings of this network meta-analyses suggest that low-level laser therapy and pulsed dye laser are both effective treatments for minimization of scar formation following primary closure of surgical wounds with comparable treatment outcomes.MedicineReviewSCOPUS10.2340/actadv.v104.184772-s2.0-851820163341651205738189223