Background
Many patients with keloids experience symptoms, such as pain and pruritus, and may present with significant psychosocial burden. However, no single therapeutic regimen has been firmly established for treatment of keloids.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to assess patients’ perspectives on their keloids after treatment by comparing preoperative and postoperative surveys.
Methods
All patients seen at the keloid clinic, both preoperatively and postoperatively, were contacted via phone calls. Participants completed the demographics, keloid characteristics, and pain and pruritus scales. Participants also completed all three portions (appearance, symptom, and psychosocial impact) of the SCAR-Q, a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.).
Results
Of the 60 patients who participated in the study, 35 preoperative and 34 postoperative surveys were completed. Patients experienced significant reduction in pain (5.6±4.0 to 0.1±0.4, p<0.001) and pruritus (6.5±3.0 to 0.8±1.5, p<0.001) post-intervention. Significant improvements in all three portions of the SCAR-Q were noted. Appearance improved from 26.5±22.3 to 73.4±23.0 (p<0.001); symptom from 44.0±15.7 to 81.4±16.7 (p<0.001); psychosocial impact from 27.7±30.7 to 82.6±26.3 (p<0.001).
Conclusions
Patients with keloids experience significant improvement in their symptomatic and psychosocial burden after treatment. Although management modalities are not well established, it is essential that plastic surgeons do not overlook the therapeutic benefits on their patients’ well-being.