The efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser therapy in the treatment of burn scars: A meta-analysis.

Abstract Although we have numerous publications about the effect of fractional CO2 laser therapy for burn scars, quantitative data about its efficacy and safety are sparse. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser therapy for the treatment of burn scars. Pertinent studies were identified by a search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to 20 September 2020. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was conducted to combine the results, and a random-effect model was used to pool the results. Publication bias was estimated using Begg and Egger’s regression asymmetry test. Twenty articles were included. Our pooled results suggested that fractional CO2 laser therapy significantly improved the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score (WMD = −3.24, 95%CI: −4.30, −2.18; P