Modified Surgical Technique Combined with Radiation Therapy for Keloid Management.

BACKGROUND

Keloids are skin proliferative lesions with tumor-like characteristics. Their treatment is challenging due to their high recurrence rate. The most effective treatment against keloids is surgical excision with radiotherapy. However, the recurrence rate remains high.

METHODS

In this study, we modified the surgical technique by reducing the tension of an area three times larger than the residual wound area. We treated 89 patients using the modified surgical excision procedure with radiotherapy, and we assessed the appearance of the scar using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score.

RESULTS

The follow-up times ranged from 12 to 28 months with an average of 16.4 months. During the follow-up period, local recurrences were observed in 13 cases (14.6%). The mean VSS score decreased significantly after treatment (P < 0.001) indicating an improvement in the cosmetic appearance of scars.

CONCLUSION

The modified surgical technique combined with radiation therapy may be an effective method for treating keloids.

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 .