An Effective Auricular Keloids Management Method: Excision of the Original Lesion and Postoperative Corticosteroids.

Abstract

Background: Auricular keloids are challenging to manage, and recurrent keloids are more aggressive and likely to cause auricular deformities. Monotherapy such as surgical resection, injection, or radiotherapy alone has a high recurrence rate. The treatment approach for auricular keloids remains to be investigated.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients who received treatment at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, between December 2021 and May 2023. Based on the size, location, and extent of keloid invasion, the appearance of auricle was reconstructed by repairing scar flap after excision of the keloid and its core or resection. Postoperative injections of triamcinolone were administered within one week after suture removal, followed by every two weeks for 4-6 times.

Results: 30 patients were followed up for 6-36 months after the operation. The POSAS score of the patients was significantly lower than that before the operation. Among them, one patient relapsed due to failure to receive regular postoperative injections, one patient experienced delayed healing due to local hair interference, and two patients had menstrual disorders during the injection.

Conclusion: For keloids with diverse morphologies and anatomic locations, adopting individualized combined treatment involving surgical excision and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections can achieve the reconstruction of auricle morphology and maintain a long-term therapeutic effect.

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