Assessment of Treatment Modalities in Patients With Keloids: A Vancouver Scale Comparison

Abstract

Background: Various treatment modalities are used to treat keloids. However, a comprehen- sive assessment comparing the effectiveness of these modalities in terms of patient-reported outcomes is warranted. Objective: To assess and compare the effectiveness of various treatment modalities for keloids. Methods: We assessed treatment outcomes in a cohort of 250 patients diagnosed with keloids. The patients were categorized into four treatment groups: triamcinolone acetonide (TA), TA + cryotherapy, TA + pulsed dye laser (PDL), and TA + cryotherapy + PDL. The Vancouver Scar Scale was used to evaluate the keloid severity before and after treatment. Results: Significant differences were noted in the Vancouver Scale scores among the treatment groups (p=0.023). Notably, the TA + cryotherapy + PDL group exhibited the most substantial improvement in the Vancouver Scale scores, whereas the TA + PDL group showed the least dif- ference. Pliability was the most significantly improved in the TA + cryotherapy + PDL group (p=0.039). Male patients experienced a greater reduction in pigmentation scores than female patients (p=0.037). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the effectiveness of combined therapies, particularly TA + cryotherapy + PDL, in improving keloid-related parameters. These results offer valuable insights for clinicians in tailoring keloid treatment strategies and support the implementation of com- bination therapies for enhanced outcomes. This study underscores the importance of compre- hensively assessing treatment modalities for keloid management. Combination therapies such as TA + cryotherapy + PDL irradiation have demonstrated significant promise in improving keloid characteristics.