Scar Conditions and Fibrosis of Skin

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the aesthetic benefit and safety of serial dermabrasion for free flap skin paddles and donor site scars in head and neck reconstruction.

The present project serves to test whether stem cell therapy offers a new treatment option for the scars of burn survivors. In Denmark, 12.000 people seek medical assistance every year for burn injuries leaving thousands of people with the devastating condition of hypertrophic scarring. Affected patients experience pain, itching, numbness, and reduced range of motion, which profoundly impact their quality of life. We hypothesize that adipose-derived stem cells can improve scar quality. To test this, we have conducted an integrated phase I + II trial (the ScarASC trials). ScarASC will be the first randomized controlled trial to use stem cells in burn patients. Two scar areas in each patient will be randomly injected with A) allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells and B) the control medium (placebo). We maintain a patient-centered scope, with our primary endpoint being a patient-reported outcome measure. However, we also obtain objective scar assessments using three-dimensional photographs, the scar elevation index, and gene/protein expression regulation.