• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.554-560
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• 2022

Background Hypertrophic scars cause aesthetic concerns and negatively affect the quality of life. A gold standard treatment for hypertrophic scars has not been established due to various responses of modalities. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive and affects scar remodeling by fibroblast regulation. This study investigated the effectiveness of ESWT for hypertrophic scars. Methods Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. All patients underwent ESWT once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Their scars were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), erythema index, melanin index, and scar pliability before treatment and again 4 weeks after treatment completion. Results Thirty-four hypertrophic scars in this study had persisted for between 6 months and 30 years. Most scars developed after surgical incision (55.88%). The chest and upper extremities were the predominant areas of occurrence (35.29% each). Most of the POSAS subscales and total scores were significantly improved 4 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the pain, itching, and pigmentation subscale were improved. The pliability, melanin index, and erythema index were also improved, but without significance. The patients were satisfied with the results and symptoms alleviation, although subjective score changes were insignificant. No serious adverse events were found. The patients reported pruritus in 62.5% and good pain tolerance in 37.5%. Subgroup analyses found no differences in scar etiologies or properties at different parts of the body. Conclusion The ESWT is a modality for hypertrophic scar treatment with promising results. Most of POSAS subscales were significantly improved.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1973

Introduction. The human cutaneous scars manifest themselves many ways in different types according to the factors such as the age, sex, race of the patient as well as the location,. kind and heal ing process of the wound. Among the scars it is quiet difficult to verify the clinical course of the hypertrophic or keloidal scars from the true keloids. However, clinical observations indicate that stress, either mechanical or in the forms of chronic infections, can induce a functional change in the fibroblasts causing an excessive production of collagenous matrix. In this study, we preliminary attempt to justify any difference of the cellular structure between keloids and hypertrophic scars by using electron microscope. Material and Methods. A total of 23 cases: 2 scars, 2 hypertrophic scars and 19 keloids are examined. Immediately, the biopsy tissue was fixed in 10% neutral formalin and 4% glutaraldehyde solution in phosphate buffer for 4 hours, post fixed in 1 % osmium tetraoxide for two hours, dehydrated with graded alcohol, and embedded in Epon 812. Thick sections were stained with hematoxylin eosin, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) and Van Gieson stain. Thin sections were cut and uranyle acetate, lead citratestain and examined with the electron microscope. Result. The morphologic features of keloid showed thick, homogenously eosinophilic bands of collagen and numberous large active fibroblasts. The hypertrophic scar and soft scar are more cellular than keloid and composed thinner collagenous fiber. For this paper in the etiology of keloids can not as be defined, but and interesting keloidal tissue fibroblast showed irregular nucleus with irregular shape dense bodies and fibril materials contained in to the cytoplasm.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.494-497
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• 2012

Traumatic lacerations are common in the orofacial region as a result of accidents. Due to the frequent movement of the skin around the mandible, scars in that area are more likely to widen or become hypertrophic. Treatment of facial laceration was performed on three patients and followed by regular check-up. It was discovered that the scars have become hypertrophic, so steroid injections were used. The results were satisfactory with the decrease in sizes and hardnes of the scar. Facial scarring is a particularly distressing phenomenon and has always been a challenge to treat as the scars are more likely to widen or become hyphertrophied due to the frequent movement of the muscle in the facial area. We confirmed that the positive effect of steroid on hypertrophic scars. So, we suggest that proper treatment and periodic follow-up, adjuvant treatments especially steroid injection is necessary in patients with lacerations.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the synergistic effects of combined therapy of steroid and anti-neoplastic drug injection on hypertrophic scars in a rabbit model. Methods: Adult male white rabbits weighing about 2.5 kg were used. After full thickness wounding (about 6 mm) over the ventral surface of each ear sized was made, either saline (control group), triamcinolone, 5-fluoruracil, and mixture of triamcinolone and 5-fluoruracil were injected once 16 days after the wound was made. Rabbits were sacrificed 2, 4 and 8 weeks after injection, and tissue specimens were prepared for histologic and histomorphometric examinations. Results: With the combined injection of triamcinolone and 5-fluoruracil, collagen fiber thickness was arranged in a somewhat irregular manner 2 weeks after injection. After 4 weeks, blood vessels and inflammatory cells were decreased, and collagen fibers were arranged in an almost parallel manner. By 8 weeks, almost same amount of connective tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue was observed. Conclusion: These results indicated that combined injection of triamcinolone and 5-fluoruracil reduced the amount of hypertrophic scars by inhibition of fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. Therefore, combined injection of triamcinolone and 5-fluoruracil is a more potent and effective treatment of hypertrophic scars compared with the single injection of either triamcinolone or 5-fluorouracil.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.700-705
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• 2006

Purpose: For hypertrophic scars and keloids no universally effective treatment modality exists. Surgical revision, intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, pressure, laser, and others have been used with variable success, but many treatments are associated with high recurrence rates. Although optimal treatment remains undefined, successful treatment can be obtained through a combined therapeutic approach. Methods: We used three therapeutic modalities in combination, which are intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide, silicone gel sheeting, and 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser. Fifty-eight cases of hypertrophic or keloid scar were treated by combined therapeutic regimen for mean period of 18 months. The changes of thickness, color, and pliability of scars were evaluated with clinical photographs by grading scale. Results: As summing the grades and categorizing the result into three group, we obtained 28% good, 67% fair, and 5% poor results. There was a desirable improvement of scars with insignificant adverse effects. Conclusion: Combination of intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, and pulsed dye laser can lead to successful treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloid.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

Scars vary from mature linear scars to abnormal excessive scars such as hypertrophic scars and keloid scars. Keloid scars are fibro-proliferative disease entities that reflect an abnormal process of wound healing. They can cause pain, itching, stiffness, and psychological distress, all of which can affect quality of life. Various treatment options have been advocated as ways to prevent and treat keloid scars. These include noninvasive treatments such as use of silicone gel sheeting and compression therapy, and invasive treatments such as intralesional corticosteroid injections, surgery, and radiotherapy. Novel treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and anti-inflammatory therapies. Unfortunately, keloids continue to pose a significant challenge due to the lack of efficacious treatments. Therefore, clinicians should be familiar with various therapeutic options and apply the most suitable treatment plan for patients. In this review, we introduce the current therapeutic options for the management of keloid scars.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2015

Background Hypertrophic scars and keloids are associated with abnormal levels of growth factors. Silicone gel sheets are effective in treating and preventing hypertrophic scars and keloids. There has been no report on the change in growth factors in the scar tissue following the use of silicone gel sheeting for scar prevention. A prospective controlled trial was performed to evaluate whether growth factors are altered by the application of a silicone gel sheet on a fresh surgical scar. Methods Four of seven enrolled patients completed the study. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were investigated immunohistochemically in biopsies taken from five scars at 4 months following surgery. Results In both the epidermis and the dermis, the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ (P=0.042 and P=0.042) and PDGF (P=0.043 and P=0.042) was significantly lower in the case of silicone gel sheet-treated scars than in the case of untreated scars. The expression of bFGF in the dermis was significantly higher in the case of silicone gel sheet-treated scars than in the case of untreated scars (P=0.042), but in the epidermis, the expression of bFGF showed no significant difference between the groups (P=0.655). Conclusions The levels of TGF-${\beta}1$, PDGF, and bFGF are altered by the silicone gel sheet treatment, which might be one of the mechanisms of action in scar prevention.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.620-629
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• 2014

Keloid scars are often considered aesthetically unattractive and frustrating problems that occur following injuries. They cause functional and cosmetic deformities, displeasure, itching, pain, and psychological stress and possibly affect joint movement. The combination of these factors ultimately results in a compromised quality of life and diminished functional performance. Various methods have been implemented to improve keloid scars using both surgical and non-surgical approaches. However, it has proven to be a challenge to identify a universal treatment that can deliver optimal results for all types of scars. Through a PubMed search, we explored most of the literature that is available about the intralesional injection treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids and highlights both current (corticosteroid, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, interferon, cryotherapy and verapamil) and future treatments (interleukin-10 and botulinum toxin type A). The reference lists of retrieved articles were also analysed. Information was gathered about the mechanism of each injection treatment, its benefits and associated adverse reactions, and possible strategies to address adverse reactions to provide reliable guidelines for determining the optimal treatment for particular types of keloid scars. This article will benefit practitioners by outlining evidence-based treatment strategies using intralesional injections for patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 2019

The treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars (HTSs) remains one of the most difficult challenges, with a high recurrence rate regardless of the method of treatment. The latest trend in scar management is a combined approach using multiple modalities that are individualized to the patient and that would provide successful results for keloid and HTSs. There are previous reports that stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is effective for scar remodeling. Based on these reports, we introduced the concept of a combination treatment using SVF injection and fractional ablative CO₂ laser. In this report, we present a 21-year-old woman who was involved in a car accident. A defect on her foot was covered with a skin graft, but the scars became elevated, which turned out to be HTSs. She was treated with a fractional ablative CO₂ laser for five sessions. A month later, SVF injection and fractional ablative CO₂ laser were conducted simultaneously. The result of a year's follow-up showed a flattened scar with resolution of pigment deposition. In conclusion, the combination treatment for HTSs with SVF injection and ablative fractional CO₂ laser is one of the modalities to achieve an excellent outcome for treating HTS.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 1997

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of surgical excision followed by radiation therapy for Prevention of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Materials and Methods : From October 1987 to April 1995, radiation therapy was applied to 167 sites in 106 patients with surgical excision in an attempt to prevention of recurrence against keloids and hypertrophic scars. The main etiology of the keloids and hypertrophic scars were surgery in $49.2\%,\;trauma\;in\;25.0\%,\;ear-piercing\;in\;5.4\%,\;and\;burn\;in\;5.4\%$, The Patients' ages ranged from 3 to 70 years with a median of 32 years. Radiation therapy used ranged from 6 to 8MeV electron beam. Radiation therapy was delivered within 24 hours of surgical excision. Several dose schedules were used, varing from 400cGy in 1 daily fraction to 1900cGy in 4 daily fractions. The average total dose was 1059cGy, and the average dose per fraction was 433cGy. All patients were followed up from 24 to 114 months with a median follow up of 49 months. Results : The overall recurrence rate was $12.6\%$ (21/167) The overall 1-year and 2-year recurrence rates were $10.2\%\;and\;11.4\%$, respectively Among 21 recurrent sites, seventeen sites $(81\%)$ were confirmed within 12 months after surgical excision. Period to recurrence ranged from 1 month to 47 months with a median recurrence time of 9.6 months, The history of previous therapy was only a significant factor in recurrence. Twenty-four patients had history of previous therapy recurrence rates was significantly higher in this group than those without history of Previous therapy $(22.6\%\;vs.\;11.0\%,\;p=0.04)$. There was no serious complication related to radiation therapy. Conclusion : This study suggests that surgical excision followed by radiation therapy is an effective method of preventing keloids and hypertrophic scars.