[Assessment of surgical scars: a quantitative method].

Objective: To describe an objective assessment method, based on quantifiable criteria, and compare it with subjective patient and surgeon assessments.

Methods: 136 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were prospectively analyzed. Surgical scars were evaluated six months after surgery, with measurements of widening, hypertrophy and retraction. An objective 4-type scar classification (A, B, C and D) and a subjective 10-point surgeon and patient-assessed score were used. The results were compared.

Results: The surgeon's subjective assessment was different between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.021) and between groups 2 and 3B (p = 0.011). Patients' assessments did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.283). The objective assessment gave better results for groups 1 and 3B, although without significance. The method used for objective assessment was effective and the surgeon's mean scores differed between the groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Assessment using the quantitative method was adequate to classify surgical scars, and agreed more with reality than a satisfaction-based subjective impression.