The Burn Scar Assessment is used to evaluate scarred tissue following a second or third degree burn over time. It can be used to monitor a patient's response to therapy or compare different patients within or between institutions. The assessment was developed at the Burn Unit of Vancouver General Hospital in Canada.
Burn site selection:
(1) area 1x1 inch square (or 4 square cm)
(2) scars usually less than 1 year in age
(3) should be designated on an accompanying body diagram
Parameters assessed:
(1) pigmentation
(2) vascularity
(3) pliability
(4) height relative to surrounding unaffected skin
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
pigmentation (M) |
normal |
0 |
|
|
hypopigmentation |
1 |
|
|
hyperpigmentation |
2 |
|
vascularity (V) |
normal |
0 |
|
|
pink |
1 |
|
|
red |
2 |
|
|
purple |
3 |
|
pliability (P) |
normal |
0 |
|
|
supple (flexible with minimal resistance) |
1 |
|
|
yielding (gives way to pressure) |
2 |
|
|
firm (inflexible, not easily moved, resistant to manual pressure) |
3 |
|
|
banding (rope-like tissue that blanches with extension of scar) |
4 |
|
|
contracture (permanent shortening of scar producing deformity or distortion) |
5 |
|
height (H) |
normal, flat |
0 |
|
|
> 0 and < 2 mm |
1 |
|
|
>= 2 mm and < 5 mm |
2 |
|
|
> 5 mm |
3 |
where:
• Normal color closely resembles the colour over the rest of one's body.
• Normal vascularity has a colour that closely resembles the colour over the rest of one's body.
• Scars with mixed pigmentation are graded with the most marked change (highest applicable point assignment).
burn scar assessment score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 13
• The lower the score, the more the scar resembles normal tissue.
Modifications of basic score:
• The authors included modifications of the score to include pain and itching.
|
Additional Symptom |
Finding |
Points |
|
pain |
none |
0 |
|
|
occasional |
1 |
|
|
requires medication |
2 |
|
itching |
none |
0 |
|
|
occasional |
1 |
|
|
requires medication |
2 |
Purpose: To evaluate the appearance of a burn scar using the Burn Scar Assessment of Vancouver General Hospital.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage
ICD-10: T20-T25, T26-T28, T29-T32,
