title: Outcomes of surgical excision with pressure therapy using magnets and identification of risk factors for recurrent keloids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, the authors described an adjuvant pressure therapy using magnets for the management of ear keloids. The purpose of the present study was to build on this previous study by expanding the cohort of patients, evaluating treatment outcomes by means of a prospective study and identifying risk factors for recurrent ear keloids.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors treated 1436 ear keloids in 883 patients with surgical excision followed by pressure therapy using magnets at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital over the 7.25-year period from December of 2002 to February of 2010. Six hundred eighteen of 883 patients (70 percent) had histories of treatment failure at other hospitals. The follow-up period was 18 months. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated as recurrence or nonrecurrence. Comparisons between the two groups (recurrence versus nonrecurrence) were made using Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables, the chi-square test and the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and multivariate logistic regression for investigating associations between possible risk factors and keloid recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall recurrence-free rate was 89.4 percent after a follow-up period of 18 months. Keloid recurrence was significantly associated with the presence of prior treatment history, keloid low growth rate, and high patient body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' protocol results in excellent outcomes in cases of ear keloids. Patients with prior treatment history, low growth rates of keloids because of longer duration of disease, and high body mass index should be monitored closely for signs of recurrence and managed cautiously during ear keloid treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Risk, III.
authors.affiliation: Seoul, Korea From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Tae Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: June-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Choong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004431:Ear, External; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000628:therapy*; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult