A therapeutic evaluation of various modalities of treatment of keloid-A randomized open label study

Abstract

Keloid and hypertrophic scar are the result of abnormal growth of fibrous tissue following healing of a cutaneous injury in predisposed individuals. Some treatment options are pressure garments, radiation therapy, excision, intralesional injections, cryotherapy, silicone gel dressing and lasers though no single modality is completely effective.To study the efficacy, to compare and to study the adverse effects of 4 different modalities of treatment of keloid namely, Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC), Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and 5-fluoro uracil (5-FU), Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and silicone gel sheet (SGS) and Intralesional Radiofrequency (RF). Arandomized open label study was conducted in the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat from Nov 2020 to December 2022. 108 patients were allocated to 4 groups, Group 1(TAC), Group 2( + 5FU), Group 3( + SGS) and Group 4(RF). Group 1 received Intralesional injections of Triamcinolone acetonide (alone), Group 2 received Intralesional injections of Triamcinolone acetonide and 5- fluorouracil, Group 3 was given Intralesional injections of Triamcinolone acetonide and topical silicone gel sheet and Group 4 was treated with intralesional radiofrequency.A total of 108 patients of age group 18-52 years were enrolled and was divided into 4 groups consisting of 27 patients each Improvement of pliability, vascularity, pigmentation and height of keloid was maximum in TAC + 5FU group and least was in TAC + SGS group. At the end of 4 weeks, excellent improvement was found highest in 29.6% of TAC+5FU group, 22.2% in TAC alone, 18.5% in RF group and 11.1% in TAC+SGS group. At the end of 8 weeks, excellent improvement was found highest in 51.8% of TAC+5FU group, 44.4% in TAC alone, 40.7% RF group and 25.9% in TAC+SGS group. The difference was statistically significant.Skin atrophy, telangiectasia, hypopigmentation and recurrence were observed more TAC group therapies whereas, ulceration and infection were more frequent with RF treatment, however few cases were also seen TAC+5FU group.In this study in terms of pliability and overall improvement maximum response was seen in group TAC + 5 FU and TAC + SGS was least effective.