Surgery and Perioperative Intralesional Corticosteroid Injection for Treating Earlobe Keloids: A Korean Experience

Abstract

Background:The aesthetic implications of ear keloids, which affect people of all races, are serious and the treatment of earlobe keloids is known to be difficult. The high rate of recurrence following excision alone has led to investigating various types of adjuvant therapy, including intralesional corticosteroid injection. Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of excision combined with perioperative intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection for treating earlobe keloids of Korean patients. Methods: From 1997 to 2006, eighteen keloids on the earlobes of fifteen Korean patients were treated. The patient age ranged from 15 to 32 years (mean age: 24 years). All the patients were female and the keloids occurred after ear piercing. Preoperative intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection was administered twice at a 1-month interval. Postoperative intralesional TA injections were given every 1 month for several months, depending on the patient's clinical progress. Results: The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 42 months (mean: 18.5 months). After the surgery, TA intralesional injections were given 2 to 13 times (mean: 5.2 times). Of the treated keloids, eleven showed good results (61.1%) and three recurred (16.6%). No complications from the TA intralesional injection were observed. Conclusion: Among the various treatments for earlobe keloids, we suggest that excision with corticosteroid intralesional injection can be used as the first line therapy when considering its effect and economic advantage. (Ann Dermatol 21(3) 221∼225, 2009)

Variety of complications after auricle piercing

“…It is highlighted in the literature that the earlobe is a common site for hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation; the treatment of them is long, and often many techniques are used (surgical excision, intralesional corticosteroid injections, cryosurgery, pressure dressing, and laser therapy). 21,22 In our group, keloid formation in the earlobe area was the second most frequent complication in patients treated by a plastic surgeon.…”

Gangrenous Keloid of the Ear Pinna Following Intralesional Triamcinolone Injection: Proper Consent Is Essential

“…One salient point that can be derived from this review is the occurrence of morbid complications such as those involving keloid formations over the trunk and extremities. There was no serious adverse event encountered from steroid injection to auricular keloid up to now [21]. Perhaps the absence of such reactions may be attributed to correct dosage, regime, and technique.…”

Giant relapsing earlobe keloid – Successful combined treatment by surgery and pressure earring

“…Jung et al combined surgery with repeated postsurgical triamcinolone injections and recorded a relapse rate of 16.6%. [6] Al Aradi et al treated earlobe keloids by keloidectomy with core fillet flap and adjuvant intralesional steroid injection. They achieved an immediate relapse rate of 9.5%.…”