Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Feb 2019
Role of Early Application of Pressure Garments following Burn Injury and Autografting.
Pressure garment therapy, used for reduction of postburn scarring, is commonly initiated after complete healing of the wound or autograft. Although some clinicians have suggested that earlier treatment may improve outcomes, the effect of early initiation of therapy has not been studied in a controlled environment. ⋯ Early application of pressure garments is safe and effective for reducing scar thickness and contraction and improving biomechanics. This preclinical study suggests that garments should be applied as soon as possible after grafting to achieve greatest benefit, although clinical studies are needed to validate the findings in humans.