Traumatic and Burn Scars

The addition of a chapter on “Traumatic and Burn Scars” in the second edition of this text is an acknowledgment of the interval emergence of minimally invasive technologies and techniques in traumatic scar management (e.g., ablative fractional laser resurfacing) and perhaps even a nascent niche in “trauma dermatology.” Traumatic scars are inherently heterogeneous and derived from a wide variety of etiologies such as thermal burns, friction injuries, acid burns, lacerations, and blunt force. The final presentation also includes the sequelae of any related reconstructive procedures such as full- and partial-thickness skin grafting. These scars may occur in an unlimited number of locations and may have associated underlying injuries such as tissue loss and injury to bones, tendons, and nerves. Traumatic scars can cause profound disability, deformity, and chronic pain and itch, all of which may lead to significant psychosocial issues that can negatively impact treatment.