Acetic acid iontophoresis for recalcitrant scarring in post-operative hand patients.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort comparison.

INTRODUCTION

Using acetic acid iontophoresis (AAI) as a treatment modality significantly improved the functionality of hand in patients with recalcitrant scarring.

METHODS

Open trigger finger release patients followed up exclusively at a hand clinic between 2009 and 2011 were analyzed. Group I recovered optimal total active range of motion (TAM) after 14 standard of care (SOC) therapy sessions but Group II (10 digits) could only reach optimal recovery after 7 additional AAI sessions.

RESULTS

After SOC therapy, Group I's TAM recovery plateaued at 245 and Group II's at 219 (p < 0.01). After undergoing AAI, the TAM of Group II increased from 219 to 239 (p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION: Clinical studies suggest that AAI can modify collagen structure in scars. AAI could be a novel non-surgical treatment for restoring functionality to areas affected by difficult, recalcitrant scars.

CONCLUSION

AAI significantly improved the TAM of hand surgical patients who could not recover optimally with SOC therapy alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.