title: [Keloid and hypertrophic scars].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Keloid and hypertrophic scars develop most frequently in wounds with high skin tension and especially on the upper truncus. Both are characterized by an excessive dysfunctional collagen metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The article presents data from research in current literature and discuss the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients that are undergoing elective surgery should be handled with surgical techniques that reduce wound closing tension. Patients who are at high-risk or show excessive scar development should follow standard treatment. First-line therapy is silicone sheeting and/or pressure. In case of minimal response, steroid injections should be started after two months. The patient must be re-evaluated for a surgical approach combined with conservative treatment if the result is unsatisfactory after 12 months.
authors: Plastisk kirurgisk avdeling, Sykehuset Telemark, Skien. kim.tonseth@rikshospitalet.no
authors: Kim Alexander
authors: KA
authors: Tønseth
authors: Tyge Tind
authors: TT
authors: Tindholdt
authors: Ulf Sverre
authors: US
authors: Solberg
authors: Vanja
authors: V
authors: Busic
authors: Haris
authors: H
authors: Mesic
authors: Anadi
authors: A
authors: Begic
mesh_terms: D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods