Intralesional cryotherapy for treatment of keloid scars: patient-reported outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Keloid scars are extremely difficult to treat with current therapy options, such as surgical excision and steroids, and have high recurrence rates. Intralesional cryotherapy is a relatively new treatment modality that uses a double-lumen needle to freeze the scar from the core, outwards. Evidence from the literature supports its use, with recurrence rates reported between 0-23%. The aim of this study was to assess patient-reported outcomes of keloid scar treatment with intralesional cryotherapy.

METHOD: All patients who had undergone intralesional cryotherapy, with a minimum follow-up period of six weeks were asked to complete a questionnaire. Patients were asked to rate the appearance of their scar and severity of their symptoms on a Visual Analogue Scale. They also reported any side-effects, complications and whether they would recommend the treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients were included between 2017 and 2019. All patients reported an improvement in scar appearance and 91% of patients reported an improvement in pain, with an average 3.75-point reduction in pain scores. All patients would recommend the treatment. Hypopigmentation was the most frequently reported side-effect and was most common in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. A second treatment was required by three patients; all three had keloid scarring on the anterior chest and had previously had multiple courses of steroids.

CONCLUSION

The findings of our study appears to support the use of intralesional cryotherapy for the treatment of keloid scarring, with high patient satisfaction rates.