TY - JOUR
T1 - Needle-free electronically-controlled jet injector treatment with bleomycin and lidocaine is effective and well-tolerated in patients with recalcitrant keloids
AU - Bekkers, Vazula Zulfra
AU - Khan, Fatima
AU - Aarts, Pim
AU - Zdunczyk, Katarzyna
AU - Prens, Errol Prospero
AU - Wolkerstorfer, Albert
AU - Rissmann, Robert
AU - van Doorn, Martijn Bastiaan Adriaan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Objectives: The treatment of recalcitrant keloids is challenging. Although intralesional bleomycin using conventional needle injectors (CNI) is effective, it has important drawbacks, such as the need for repetitive and painful injections. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability and patient satisfaction of intralesional bleomycin with lidocaine administered with a needle-free electronically-controlled pneumatic jet-injector (EPI) in recalcitrant keloids. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with recalcitrant keloids who had received three intralesional EPI-assisted treatments with bleomycin and lidocaine. Effectiveness was assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at baseline and four to six weeks after the third treatment. Additionally, treatment related pain scores numeric rating scale, adverse effects, patient satisfaction and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were assessed. Results: Fifteen patients with a total of >148 recalcitrant keloids were included. The median total POSAS physician- and patient-scores were respectively 40 and 41 at baseline, and reduced with respectively 7 and 6-points at follow-up (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). The median pain scores during EPI-assisted injections were significantly lower compared to CNI-assistant injections, (2.5 vs. 7.0, respectively (p < 0.001)). Adverse effects were mild. Overall, patients were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the treatments (14/15, 93.3%). The GAIS was “very improved” in one patient, “improved” in nine patients and “unaltered” in four patients. Conclusions: EPI-assisted treatment with bleomycin and lidocaine is an effective, well tolerated, patient-friendly alternative for CNI in patients with recalcitrant keloid scars. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm our findings and improve the clinical management of recalcitrant keloids.
AB - Objectives: The treatment of recalcitrant keloids is challenging. Although intralesional bleomycin using conventional needle injectors (CNI) is effective, it has important drawbacks, such as the need for repetitive and painful injections. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability and patient satisfaction of intralesional bleomycin with lidocaine administered with a needle-free electronically-controlled pneumatic jet-injector (EPI) in recalcitrant keloids. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with recalcitrant keloids who had received three intralesional EPI-assisted treatments with bleomycin and lidocaine. Effectiveness was assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at baseline and four to six weeks after the third treatment. Additionally, treatment related pain scores numeric rating scale, adverse effects, patient satisfaction and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were assessed. Results: Fifteen patients with a total of >148 recalcitrant keloids were included. The median total POSAS physician- and patient-scores were respectively 40 and 41 at baseline, and reduced with respectively 7 and 6-points at follow-up (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). The median pain scores during EPI-assisted injections were significantly lower compared to CNI-assistant injections, (2.5 vs. 7.0, respectively (p < 0.001)). Adverse effects were mild. Overall, patients were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the treatments (14/15, 93.3%). The GAIS was “very improved” in one patient, “improved” in nine patients and “unaltered” in four patients. Conclusions: EPI-assisted treatment with bleomycin and lidocaine is an effective, well tolerated, patient-friendly alternative for CNI in patients with recalcitrant keloid scars. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm our findings and improve the clinical management of recalcitrant keloids.
KW - bleomycin
KW - drug delivery
KW - jet injector
KW - keloid
KW - needle-free
KW - scar
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176097775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23737
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23737
M3 - Article
C2 - 37933762
SN - 0196-8092
JO - Lasers in surgery and medicine
JF - Lasers in surgery and medicine
ER -