Comparative evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection vs intralesional radiofrequency with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in treatment of keloids.

Abstract

Management of keloid is difficult, so there is always a need for adequate and effective therapy. In this study, we explored and compared the efficacy and synergistic effect of combined intralesional radiofrequency (RF) and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide alone in the treatment of keloids. Sixty patients with keloid were divided in two groups of 30 patients each. In both groups total six sittings every 3 weeks and post treatment follow-up every 6 weeks was done. In group A, intralesional TAC was given. In group B, intralesional radiofrequency followed by triamcinolone was injected. In this study, there were 29 males and 31 females. In groups A and B, 73.4% and 80% of the patients, respectively, achieved grade 4 improvement at the end of 33 weeks, but there was greater mean POSAS score decline in group B in comparison with group A at each visit compared to baseline. Six patients in group A while three in group B showed recurrence. Side effects were equal in number in both groups Thus both the studied modalities of treatment produced equal efficacy and safety but with less recurrence in group B.