• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.706-710
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• 2006

Purpose: Keloid is a clinical term characterized by elevation and extension of scar tissue beyond wound margin. Currently, there is no known treatment that shows consistent effect in all patients. Postoperative radiation therapy is known to prevent recurrence of keloid. Methods: We reviewed data of patients who had undergone operation or operation followed by radiation therapy at our institute for the last 12 years. Follow up was possible in 39 patients(21 patients treated only by operation and 18 treated by operation and radiation therapy) We then investigated recurrence in both groups by VAS score. By mail, patients were asked to score their current condition on the bar in 4 aspects(itching, pain, mass lesion(by patients and other persons)). Two criteria were used for defining successful treatment. One is the case which total VAS score was 0, and the other is sum of VAS score of mass lesion was 0 to 5. Results: In the former, recurrence rate is 90.5% in operations-only group but 66.7% in operations plus radiation therapy group(p < 0.05). In the latter, recurrence rate is 66.7% in operation-only group but 22.2% in operations plus radiation therapy group(p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results shows postoperative radiation therapy is effective method in keloid treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.588-595
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• 2015

Background Radiotherapy treatment after keloidectomy is known to be an effective method for reducing the rate of recurrence. However, to date, the appropriate total radiation dose and fractionation have not yet been confirmed. The authors performed a retrospective analysis to identify the appropriate radiation dose and fractionation in post-keloidectomy radiotherapy. Methods From May 2000 to February 2011, postoperative radiotherapy was performed on 39 lesions in 28 patients after total keloidectomy. The keloid lesions were confined to the ear lobes. Between May 2000 and May 2004, 14 keloids were treated with surgical excision, followed by a total radiation dose of 1,200 cGy in three fractions over four to five days (group 1). Between June 2004 to February 2011, 25 keloids were treated with surgical excision, followed by a total radiation dose of 1,500 cGy in three fractions over four to five days (group 2). Patients were given a survey asking them to report their experiences regarding reoperation, recurrence of symptoms, recurrence of the lesion, and satisfaction with the operation. Results Of the 28 patients who were treated, 20 underwent follow-up. Group 2 had more cases showing elevation with erythematous changes, whereas group 1 had more cases showing progressive stages of elevation than group 2. These differences were statistically significant. Moreover, a correlation was observed between the level of keloid elevation and the extent of symptoms. Conclusions We suggest 1,500 cGy of radiation in three fractions following keloidectomy for ear lobe keloids. A further randomized study is needed to assess the recurrence of keloids after radiotherapy.

• 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.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.190-191
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• 2022

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.378-383
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• 2017

Background This study aimed to assess the effects of the topical application of tamoxifen on wound healing of burned skin in Wistar rats by evaluating 3 healing characteristics: fibrotic tissue thickness (FTT), scar surface area (SSA), and angiogenesis in the healed scar tissue. Methods Eighteen male Wistar rats were used in this study. A third-degree burn wound was made on the shaved animals' back, measuring $2{\times}2{\times}2cm$. In the first group, a 2% tamoxifen ointment was applied to the wound twice daily for 8 weeks. The second group received a placebo ointment during the same period. The third group did not receive any treatment and served as the control group. Results The median (interquartile range=[Q1, Q3]) FTT was 1.35 (1.15, 1.62) mm, 1.00 (0.95, 1.02) mm, and 1.25 (0.8, 1.5) mm in the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.069). However, the FTT in the tamoxifen group was less than in the placebo and control groups. The median angiogenesis was 3.5 (3.00, 6.25), 8.00 (6.75, 9.25), and 7.00 (5.50, 8.25) vessels per high-power field for the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.067). However, the median angiogenesis was higher in the tamoxifen group than in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the mean SSA between the tamoxifen group and the control group (P=0.990). Conclusions Local application of tamoxifen increased angiogenesis and decreased the FTT, with no change in the SSA in burned skin areas. These effects are expected to expedite the wound healing process, reducing contracture and preventing hypertrophic scar and keloid formation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2009

Purpose: Excessive scarring in the forms of keloid and hypertrophic scar could be a consquence of the accumulation of granulation tissue cells due to aberrant control of apoptosis. Verapamil retard extracelluar matrix production and inhibits VEGF production in primary cultured keloid fibroblast. The object of this study was effect of verapamil on VEGF expression and apoptosis in early wound scarring of the rabbit ear. Methods: Full thickness wounds were created on the ventral side of 6 New Zealand rabbits's ear. 16 days after initial wounding verapamil and saline were injected each scars and scars were harvested 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks later. The wounds were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, TUNEL stain, immunohistochemical stain for VEGF and calculated scar elevation index. Results: Histologic analaysis demonstrated significant reduction in inflammation, vascularity and improvement in dermal collagen organization in experimental group. In TUNEL staining apotosis positive cells were increased and immunohistochemial staining of VEGF demonstrated significant reduction of VEGF expression in experimental group. No significant difference was noted in scar elevation index between two groups. Conclusion: This study suggest that intralesional injection of verapamil on early wound scarring of the rabbit ear decreased VEGF production and increased apoptosis and have a benefit on the pathophysiology of scar formation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.717-722
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• 2005

The authors evaluated 14 patients from July 1999 to February 2004 treated with total keloidectomy followed by postoperative radiation treatment, delivered within 24 hours or 24-36 hours after surgery. The total dose of radiation was 1200 cGy in three fractions for 4-5 days. Among the 14 patients treated, 8 patients were evaluated for following-up. The age range of these patients were from 22 to 44 years old, with the average age of 30 years. The site of keloid lesions consisted; 6 on the ear lobe, 5 on the anterior chest and 1 on the upper arm. The mean follow-up period was 29.9 months. The recurrence was evaluated with photogrammetric analysis and skin color analysis. The photogrammetric analysis was performed with planimetry for the comparison of the ratio of the reduced size to the preoperative size. The mean value of the relative size of reduction was 55% and the ratio of the ear lobes were greater than the ratio of the chests. The skin color analysis was performed with chromameter CR-300 for the analysis of color difference (E) between the surrounding normal skin and the lesion. The larger the recurred size was, similar to the original size, the larger the E value was, so the E value posses the probability of predictable objective tool of recurrence. Although verifying the effectiveness of radiation therapy following keloidectomy need more cases and long term follow-up evaluation, this therapeutic modality seems very effective in reducing the keloid size, especially in the ear lobe.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1985

Keloids are abnormally healed skin wounds that develop in the subpapillary layer of the dermis. They are a lesion with wide, raised and deep scars. They exceed the original dimensions of the wound and grow mounds upon mounds of collagen in a pseudotumor fashion. Their treatment may take several forms such as surgery, intralesional injection of steroid, compression, superficial irradiation, and combination therapy. However, absolute method is nothing until now. Recently, the cryosurgery shows relatively good effect in treatment, so we tried the clinical experience with cryosurgery in the treatment of keloids. Material and methods: During the past 2 years, we treated 20 individuals of the keloids with severe itching and pain. The age ranged from 5 to 45 years old. Only 6 cases were biopsied before and after cryotherapy. The cryosurgery set we used was Toitu model CR 201 $N_2O$ gas (tip temperature is $-80^{\circ}C$) and was applied directly on the lesion about 4 to 5 minutes with slight compression. After cryosurgery in keloids, the following results were obtained: 1. It is both quick and easy method. 2. It causes little or no pain and no loss of blood. 3. Integumentary normalization is rapid. The new scar tissue is smaller, and more elastic and soft. 4. The pain, itching and paresthesia commonly associated with keloid is usually disappeared. 5. Other treatment can be used after cryosurgery. 6. Histologic picture after cryosurgery is similar with the result of steroid injection. 7. The mechanism of the cryosurgery in keloids is the result of the direct tissue destroying action and cryoimmunologic reaction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.600-601
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• 2018

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.659-662
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• 2008

Purpose: Silicone gel sheet(SGS) is used for preventing and treating keloid or hypertrophic scars. Because the product is weak in tear strength and adherence, it requires several replacements, which requires high cost. As a solution for this problem, we developed a new silicone gel sheet, named as Scar Clinic, and confirmed its physical properties. Methods: Tensile strength, elongation rate, adhesiveness, and water vapor transmission rate were experimentally compared between the most commonly used SGS product and the Scar Clinic. Results: The newly developed SGS showed better results compared to the existed SGS in regards to tensile strength, elongation rate, adhesiveness, and water vapor transmission rate. Conclusion: The Scar Clinic showed higher durability and flexibility. It will be a useful product for treating scars clinically.