Intralesional cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injection: a good combination therapy for treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars

Abstract

Hypertrophic scars and keloids exhibit high recurrence rates following surgical excision. Intralesional cryosurgery (ILC) can achieve a higher degree of effectiveness than the surface cryotherapy. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of ILC using Weshahy cryoneedles followed by IL steroid in a trial of getting rid of the fibrous mass by destruction, not by surgery to avoid being under tension of the new scar. This study included 22 patients. Evaluation of the volume reduction of the lesions was done after a single ILC session followed by IL steroid injections. There was a significant decrease in the volume of the lesions after 4 months (P < 0.01), with a volume reduction of 93.5%. By using ILC at the base of keloids or hypertrophic scars, we can change the old fibrous tissue into a recent scar or granulation tissue which will respond more successfully to IL steroid injection.