Treatment of an ear keloid refractory to intralesional triamcinolone injection monotherapy with fractional CO₂ laser and triamcinolone combination therapy: a case report

Abstract

Keloid is a benign fibroproliferative disorder characterized by excessive collagen production during abnormal wound healing in keloid-prone individuals. Therefore, the treatment of keloid aims to reduce inflammation and reorganize collagen bundles. Intralesional corticosteroid injection, particularly triamcinolone, is a common first-line treatment, but injections can be difficult in very firm lesions. This case report presents a refractory ear keloid treated with a combination therapy of fractional ablative CO 2 laser and intralesional triamcinolone injection. The patient had a persistent keloid mass in her left ear despite previous intralesional corticosteroid injections. The ear keloid was treated with the combination therapy of fractional CO 2 laser and triamcinolone injection. The keloid size was reduced by more than 50%, and the Vancouver Scar Scale score improved. Combined fractional CO 2 laser and triamcinolone injections may have a synergistic effect on drug delivery in addition to each keloid improvement.