BOSS-2: Burn Objective Scar Scale Project 2

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A prospective study to examine the validity of a panel of objective burn scar measurement tools

  • IRAS ID

    281226

  • Contact name

    Naiem Moiemen

  • Contact email

    naiem.moiemen2@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Reliable scar assessment is essential not only when designing clinical trials but also in everyday, clinical practice, to examine the progress of our patients’ care. Subjective assessments are extremely important, but as clinicians, we require reliable, validated, and objective tools which can yield measurable and reproducible outcomes. These are ultimately needed to achieve our goal of reducing the physical and psychosocial burden of scarring through compelling research.
    Previously, we conducted a pilot study (BOSS-1) in 55 patients with post burn hypertrophic scars. We measured, among other parameters, scar thickness, density, and pliability, using a panel of objective scar assessment tools, alongside standard subjective measurements (questionnaire-based), and skin biopsy assessments. Measurements were performed at a single time point which varied from 3 months to 6 years post burn injury. This work indicated that measuring scar thickness, pliability and colour together, may provide a global scar objective score.
    It is a multi-centre study to validate these preliminary findings. We will recruit 60 burn patients with a burn wound > 1% TBSA that did not achieve 100% wound healing at 3 weeks post injury. The time to healing will be monitored from the time of recruitment by clinical assessments, photography, TEWL (Trans-epidermal water loss) and high frequency ultrasound. A panel of tools have been selected to capture all scar characteristic changes (thickness, pliability and colour) during the scar maturation process. Both objective and subjective (e.g. POSAS, Vancouver) assessments and biological samples (bloods samples, skin biopsy) will be recorded at each time point.
    The proposed project will: (1) Allow us to validate the global burn objective scar score, identified in BOSS-1 study; (2) Correlate objective versus subjective measures; (3) Assess the acceptability of the global scar score with clinicians and patients; (4) Correlate the clinical outcomes with tissue and blood scarring markers.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 4

  • REC reference

    21/WA/0316

  • Date of REC Opinion

    8 Nov 2021

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion