The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on the Scar Pain of Burn Patients: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Many burn patients are troubled with pain and paresthesia from healed wounds. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) in various musculoskeletal disease and wounds is reported that it reduces the pain and promotes regenerating of tendon and healing of the wound. Therefore we investigated the effect of ESWT on the scar pain of burn patients. METHODS: On February 2014, three patients admitted to the department of rehabilitation medicine of Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital Burn Center underwent ESWT. One low-energy ESWT (0.05~0.12 mJ/mm2) a week was provided to them for 3 weeks in total. Numerical rating scale (NRS), Nirschl pain phase system, 70-point scoring system, Roles and Maudsley score were evaluated before ESWT, after first and third ESWT. RESULTS: In all three patients, the NRS score was decreased and total scores of Nirschl pain phase system and 70-point scoring system were improved after ESWT compared to before ESWT. Roles and Maudsley scores was poor in all three patients at before ESWT but was acceptable in two patients and good in one patient after third ESWT. CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is non-invasive, feasible and effective modality on the scar pain of burn patients.