The purpose of a new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open was to discuss current therapies for both types of abnormal scarring – keloid and hypertrophic scars, and to determine if guidelines can be provided for excisional treatment with adjuvant therapies versus non-excisional methods.

This was a systematic review that entailed a literature search from the Web of Science database. Randomized control trials (RCTs) related to keloid or hypertrophic scar treatments were selected, analyzed and summarized.

Overall, 655 keloid and 893 hypertrophic scar articles were reviewed, of which 15 articles were RCTs involving treatments.

The findings revealed that both, excision plus adjuvant therapy and nonsurgical treatments hold equal importance in the management of keloids and hypertrophic scars. 

Earlier evidence has shown that the use of silicone in hypertrophic scars improve moderate-to-severe pruritus. Additionally, topical silicone gel application renders statistically significant improvements in all parameters of sternotomy scars. When silicone gel is used as an adjuvant to surgical excision of keloids, it confers lower recurrence rates compared to only surgical excision. Even lower recurrence rates have been recorded with the use of silicone gel sheets and pressure therapy, after surgical excision of helical rim keloids.

Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 2021 Mar 22;9(3):e3469. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003469.