Efficacy of custom-made pressure clips for ear keloid treatment after surgical excision.
BACKGROUND
Mechanical pressure is increasingly applied as a means to prevent or treat keloid scars.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to analyze the long-term efficacy of our custom-molded pressure-adjustable earclips to prevent keloid recurrence after surgical excision.


METHODS
Using our custom-molded earclip, 88 patients who had undergone ear surgery for keloid scars were treated for 12 h a day for 6-18 months. The mean follow-up was 6.5 years. The primary outcome was the recurrence of keloids with patient satisfaction being the secondary outcome as assessed by Patient and Observer Scale (POSAS).


RESULTS
Keloid scars did not recur in 70.5% of treated patients. The Fitzpatrick scale, which classifies human skin by type, was significantly different between the recurrence and nonrecurrence group. Differences in other patient characteristics were not found between both groups. All parameters mentioned in the POSAS patient scale drastically improved after therapy. There were no severe side effects observed after the therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our pressure-adjustable earclip model is an effective tool in the prevention of ear keloid recurrence and is associated with high patient satisfaction. Its benefits should prompt further studies on its value as an adjuvant therapy to surgery in keloid treatment.


METHODS
Level III on the Evidence Rating Scale for Therapeutic Studies.
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: V.Tanaydin@gmail.com.
V
V
Tanaydin
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
J
J
Beugels
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
A
A
Piatkowski
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
C
C
Colla
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
E
E
van den Kerckhove
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
G C G
GC
Hugenholtz
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
R R
RR
van der Hulst
D000328:Adult; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Earclip; Keloid; Operative surgical procedures; Recurrence