Treatment of ear keloids: algorithm for a multimodal therapy regimen

Abstract

Keloids are benign cutaneous lesions, arising from proliferating fibroblasts. Keloids of the ear may occur after trauma, surgery or helix piercings and are difficult to treat, since they tend to form recurrences. Guidelines suggest multimodal therapy; however, recurrence rates remain high and distinct algorithms for the combination of different modalities are missing. To unravel the most effective combination of therapeutic options for keloids of the ear, 38 patients with the diagnosis of an ear keloid were included in our cohort. In a prospective subgroup (B) of this cohort (n = 17), patients either underwent surgery using the "fillet technique" (a meticulous peeling of the keloid skin) and intra-lesional injections of triamcinolone 10 mg/ml every 4-6 weeks for 6 months, or they were additionally treated with a non-customized pressure device which was recommended for at least 16/24 h per day over 6 months. To further compare our results, the remaining 21 patients of our cohort, who were treated at our clinic before, were retrospectively evaluated concerning their recurrence rates. The mean follow-up was 48 months. The mean count of adjuvant steroid injections was two in all patients, four in subgroup B. The recurrence rate was 30% (13/38) in all patients (subgroup B 0/17). Aesthetic results were good to excellent in all non-recurrent cases. No patient treated with fillet technique showed recurrence (p < 0.001). However, we could not confirm a significant effect but a trend of repeated steroid injections for preventing recurrences (p = 0.099). The application of pressure using our non-customized clip also showed a clear trend towards preventing recurrences in cross-table analysis (p = 0.057). Although several studies on different treatment regimens for keloids of the ear exist, the effectiveness of a multimodal treatment regimen needs to be elucidated. Overall, the best results in preventing recurrences were achieved by combining three different treatments. However, the fillet technique was the only modality preventing recurrences of keloids in uni- and multivariate analysis. The application of pressure with a non-customized clip and repeated steroid injections also showed a positive trend but failed level of significance. Based on our data and the literature we recommend, when feasible, the combination of more than one therapeutic regimen, since relapse risk went down from single to dual and triple therapy from 40% (8/20) to 14.3% (2/14) to 0% (0/4), respectively in our cohort. The use of "fillet technique" was especially beneficial.

Case Report: New Surgical Approach option for Keloid in Ear

“…Due to incomplete knowledge of the factors that stimulate and trigger the formation of abnormal scars, there are in the literature treatment methods, none of them being ideal for keloid management. They include intralesional injections of corticosteroids (IC), 5-fluorouracil, interferon alfa/gamma, bleomycin or verapamil, use of topical clobetasol, gel or silicone band, immunomodulators, retinoids and onion extract, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, use of earrings pressure, ligation of sessile keloids and pulsed light laser among others [6][7][8][9]. Among the surgical procedures, as possibilities, we can mention the ligation of pedicled keloids, the total exeresis of the lesion and the technique described by Kim DY et al named keloid fillet flap [10].…”

Recurrence of Primary and Secondary Keloids in a Select African American and Afro-Caribbean Population

“…1 They may occur after trauma, surgery, or any type of injury to dermis and are refractory to most benign therapeutic techniques. 2 Keloids present a clinical dilemma due to an extremely high rate of recurrence. They are often brought to clinicians' attention for cosmetic purposes; they may cause functional impairment and cosmetic disfigurement and are often associated with low self-reported patient quality of life.…”

“…Keloids represent an excessive tissue response to dermal injury, are characterized by local fibroblast proliferation and overproduction of collagen, and result in proliferation of scar tissue beyond the boundaries of the original area of injury 1 . They may occur after trauma, surgery, or any type of injury to dermis and are refractory to most benign therapeutic techniques 2 …”