Immediately Injections of Botulinum Toxin A After Surgical Excision for Ear Keloids: A Retrospective Study

Shu Hua Li; Xiu Juan Shan; Zhen Hua Wang; Shu Jie Tao

doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000010649

Immediately Injections of Botulinum Toxin A After Surgical Excision for Ear Keloids: A Retrospective Study

J Craniofac Surg. 2024 Oct 1;35(8):2386-2389. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010649. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shu Hua Li^{1

2}, Xiu Juan Shan^{1

2}, Zhen Hua Wang^{1

2}, Shu Jie Tao^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Hospital of Weifang People, the Second Medical University of Shandong.
² Shandong Key Laboratory of Medicine, Health and Skin immunity, Hospital of Weifang People, the Second Medical University of Shandong, Shandong, China.

Abstract

Background: Ear keloids are pathologic scar hyperplasia in the ear region. The most therapeutic approach was surgical shave excision with radiation therapy. However, radiation therapy is easily delivered to healthy surrounding tissues. In the last years, injections with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have been proven to improve surgical scars effectively in clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of immediate injections of BTX-A after surgical excision for ear keloids.

Methods: From January 2020 to January 2023, 33 consecutive patients with ear keloids were enrolled. All patients underwent scar excision and revision at the same time when they needed BTX-A. It was injected into surgical wound closure immediately after surgery. The results of this study were evaluated at follow-up from 7 to 18 months using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results: From January 2020 to January 2023, 33 patients received concomitant therapy of immediate injections of BTX-A after surgery for ear keloids. The patients were evaluated at follow-ups lasting 7 to 18 months. Only one case recurred within the follow-up period, and no adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that significant cosmetic outcomes in ear keloid treatment were achieved after early postsurgical BTX-A injections. The patients reported high satisfaction and few complications.