Therapeutic Efficacy of Intralesional Steroid With Carbon Dioxide Laser Versus With Cryotherapy in Treatment of Keloids: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Keloids are difficult to treat due to their poor response and high recurrence rate. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the therapeutic efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (ILTA) in combination with carbon dioxide laser (Group 1) versus in combination with cryotherapy (Group 2) in the treatment of keloids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with 101 keloids were randomized into 2 groups. On Day 1, keloids were ablated using either CO2 laser or cryotherapy followed by injection of ILTA at baseline and at 4 weeks interval for 3 months. Patients were followed up for 12 months to assess for therapeutic response and side effects. RESULTS: Successful therapeutic response (>50% improvement) between the 2 groups (CO2 vs cryotherapy) were assessed in terms of reduction in thickness, reduction in volume, patient's self-assessment, observer's assessment, and Vancouver Scar Scale score at the end of 6 months and 12 months (55.55% vs 70.37%; 61.1% vs 77.8%; 75% vs 77.78%; 61.12% vs 85.18%; 52.78% vs 62.96% respectively). The difference in therapeutic response between the 2 groups was not statistically significant at the end of 12 months. CONCLUSION: Both CO2 laser and cryotherapy in combination with ILTA were found to be equally effective in the treatment of keloids.

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