Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment

Background: Keloids, pathological scars with complex etiology including genetic predisposition and trauma, remain a therapeutic challenge due to high recurrence rates. This study intends to conduct a retrospective study on the patients who received punch drilling therapy for keloid in our hospital t...

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Main Authors: Juan An, Gaofeng Wang, Dan Xu, Hualian Yin, Ying Hua, Chunmei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:JPRAS Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825001287
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author Juan An
Gaofeng Wang
Dan Xu
Hualian Yin
Ying Hua
Chunmei Wang
author_facet Juan An
Gaofeng Wang
Dan Xu
Hualian Yin
Ying Hua
Chunmei Wang
author_sort Juan An
collection DOAJ
description Background: Keloids, pathological scars with complex etiology including genetic predisposition and trauma, remain a therapeutic challenge due to high recurrence rates. This study intends to conduct a retrospective study on the patients who received punch drilling therapy for keloid in our hospital to provide a new method and objective basis for the treatment of keloid. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 13 patients (20 keloids) treated at Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University was conducted. Outcomes were assessed using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores preoperatively and scar image data were collected, alongside complication rates and patient satisfaction surveys. Results: Significant reductions were observed in both scar scores: Median VAS decreased from 3.5 (range: 2.0–8.0) to 1.5 (1.0–4.0), and VSS from 7.0 (3.0–12.0) to 5.0 (1.0–8.0) (P < 0.001). Postoperative complications were minimal, with 95 % of patients reporting marked improvement in scar appearance and satisfaction. Conclusion: The combination of punch drilling, adjuvant radiotherapy, and intralesional steroids injection demonstrates high efficacy in keloid treatment, characterized by low invasiveness, rapid recovery, and reduced recurrence. This protocol provides a promising strategy for refractory keloid management.
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spelling doaj-art-e8867c8c562448e9a323e9ab3d78dbbf2025-08-20T03:40:33ZengElsevierJPRAS Open2352-58782025-09-014539540510.1016/j.jpra.2025.07.008Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatmentJuan An0Gaofeng Wang1Dan Xu2Hualian Yin3Ying Hua4Chunmei Wang5Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dongguan Kanghua Hospital, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dongguan Kanghua Hospital, Guangdong, China; Corresponding author.Background: Keloids, pathological scars with complex etiology including genetic predisposition and trauma, remain a therapeutic challenge due to high recurrence rates. This study intends to conduct a retrospective study on the patients who received punch drilling therapy for keloid in our hospital to provide a new method and objective basis for the treatment of keloid. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 13 patients (20 keloids) treated at Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University was conducted. Outcomes were assessed using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores preoperatively and scar image data were collected, alongside complication rates and patient satisfaction surveys. Results: Significant reductions were observed in both scar scores: Median VAS decreased from 3.5 (range: 2.0–8.0) to 1.5 (1.0–4.0), and VSS from 7.0 (3.0–12.0) to 5.0 (1.0–8.0) (P < 0.001). Postoperative complications were minimal, with 95 % of patients reporting marked improvement in scar appearance and satisfaction. Conclusion: The combination of punch drilling, adjuvant radiotherapy, and intralesional steroids injection demonstrates high efficacy in keloid treatment, characterized by low invasiveness, rapid recovery, and reduced recurrence. This protocol provides a promising strategy for refractory keloid management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825001287KeloidPunch drillingSuperficial radiation therapyIntralesional drug injection
spellingShingle Juan An
Gaofeng Wang
Dan Xu
Hualian Yin
Ying Hua
Chunmei Wang
Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
JPRAS Open
Keloid
Punch drilling
Superficial radiation therapy
Intralesional drug injection
title Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
title_full Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
title_fullStr Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
title_full_unstemmed Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
title_short Retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial X-ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
title_sort retrospective study on the effectiveness of punch drilling combined with superficial x ray radiotherapy and intralesional drug injection for keloid treatment
topic Keloid
Punch drilling
Superficial radiation therapy
Intralesional drug injection
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825001287
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