The clinical utility of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for burn pruritus: A prospective, randomized, single-blind study

To investigate the effect and mechanisms of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on burn scar pruritus. Forty-six patients participated (experimental group, n=23; sham stimulation group, n=23). Patients had complaints of severe pruritus ranging from 5 to 10 on the visual analog scale. The experimental group received 1000–2000 shock waves for each treatment with 100 impulses/cm2, each with low-energy flux density (0.05–0.20mJ/mm2) and a 1-week interval between treatments for 3 weeks. The numerical rating scale (NRS), 5D-Itch Scale, and Leuven Itch Scale were evaluated immediately before ESWT and after the third session. Laser Doppler blood perfusion imaging (LDI) was performed immediately before ESWT and after the first and third sessions. In the experimental group, mean NRS scores were 6.30±1.29 before therapy and 3.57±2.09 after the third session, and the difference was significant (p