USA Health physicians discuss laser therapy for burns at national burn conference

Together, Andrew Bright, D.O, a trauma and burn surgeon, and Kimberly Donnellan, M.D, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, both at USA Health, presented information about how laser therapy can help burn patients in an outpatient setting at the Burn Surgeon Forum in Chicago in early October.

Their presentation – which highlights the breadth of capabilities at USA Health for burn patients – demonstrates the benefits of a collaborative care approach across the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Bright, who typically sees burn patients in the hospital immediately after a burn accident, works to treat and close acute burn wounds using a variety of techniques.

“Afterward, patients are left with grafts and healing areas,” he said. “Despite modern reconstructive techniques, some of these areas may go on to develop scars. This has to do with the patient’s skin characteristics, healing ability and individual biology. Also, the location and depth of the burns can impact the formation of undesirable scar.”

Once a patient is stabilized and leaves the hospital, Bright and the burn team assesses them for functional limitations in the burn clinic, where he can refer patients to Donnellan for laser treatments. “Candidates for these treatments generally have functional limitations and/or skin that does not behave normally, and may have problems with movement,” Bright added.

In her office at USA Health Midtown, Donnellan utilizes the DEKA SmartXide CO2 laser to treat difficult burn cases for children and adults. “After laser treatments are complete, patients are often able to return to work, write, hold a hammer or play basketball again.” She said. “They find their pain is reduced, their range of motion is restored and often, the severe itching has improved.”

USA Health is one of only a few places in the U.S., Donnellan said, offering this service in an outpatient clinic setting. “It is the most technologically advanced CO2 laser on the market, allowing us to provide a significant amount of energy in very small columns of the skin without generating heat to the surrounding tissue,” she said. “This technique allows for a shorter recovery time and significantly reduced pain. Because the pain is reduced, we are able to offer this procedure in the clinic setting as opposed to the operating room where general anesthesia is used for pain control.”

The collaboration of care, Bright said, is especially beneficial because prompt results can happen from just one treatment: “Patients diagnosed with limitations in movement seem to have significant reduction of those limitations right away – sometimes even the same day, right after treatment. It can be quite miraculous.”

The collaboration was born from Bright’s desire to improve patient care at the USA Health Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center, Donnellan said. “He knew I had experience with lasers through my cosmetic practice so reached out to see if we could improve burn patient’s rehabilitation back into society. We have been elated over the outcomes and how quickly we see improvement.”

The national meeting – which is designed specifically for burn surgeons – covered innovated ideas and new material in the biology of burns as well as the economics of running a burn center and the role of the burn surgeon as a business and scientific leader.