Smart Use of Skin Biopsy Punch in Treating Keloids: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment of scarring has long been a problem due to high incidence and recurrence. Despite many existing treatment therapies, the efficacy remains unstable. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of skin biopsy punch in combination with corticosteroid injection (BPCI) in treating keloids. APPROACH: This was a retrospective study. In total, 16 patients with keloids received BPCI. Changes in scar appearance, accompanied symptoms, and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) were analyzed. Patient satisfaction, VAS scores, and adverse effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: Scar appearance, accompanied symptoms, and VSS scores improved significantly after the treatment. The total effective rate was 93.75% at an 18-month follow-up on average. The mean reduction rate of VSS score was 58.44% (p < 0.0001), especially in height and pliability (84.44% and 78.19%, p < 0.0001). The recurrence rate in this study was 12.5% (n = 2) at an 18-month follow-up on average. Mild adverse effects of pain, pruritus, hypopigmentation, and telangiectasia were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated BPCI might be an effective and safe therapy in keloids with a low long-time recurrence rate and well tolerance for patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .