eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Wound Healing

Wound Healing, Widened and Hypertrophic Scars: Treatment

Author: Bradon J Wilhelmi, MD, Endowed Leonard Weiner, MD, Professor and Chief of Division of Plastic Surgery, Residency Program Director, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 17, 2008

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Several different nonsurgical options have been described to treat abnormal scars. Pressure is thought to decrease tissue metabolism and increase collagen breakdown within the wound.³¹ The different methods for applying pressure include the use of elastic bandages (eg, Ace wraps) for the extremities, thromboembolic disease stockings for the feet, or Isotoner-type gloves for the hands. Alternatively, custom-fitted compression garments can be used to apply pressure to the more difficult areas, including the lower neck and torso. Obviously, compression ACE wraps or stockings are not useful for areas such as the head and face. Because these devices are uncomfortable, patient compliance varies. Unfortunately, for optimal results, these devices must be used for 6-12 months during the maturation of the wound.

Silicone gel can be used to treat abnormal scars. Silicone gel has been shown to significantly decrease scar volume when used over time. Studies have demonstrated 80-100% improvement in hypertrophic scar formation.^32,31,33 The effect of the silicone gel on the scar is believed to be due to wound hydration. The silicone gel is applied to the wound for at least 12 h/d. Patients find it more appealing to apply the silicone to their wounds at night. Silicone gel is gaining popularity because it can be applied to a smaller area for 12 h/d, usually at night. However, skin breakdown, rashes, and difficulty with wound adherence can lead to disuse. Also, certain areas, such as the face, do not lend themselves to the easy use of such devices.

Accordingly, steroid injections have become a common nonsurgical option in the treatment of problem scars. The steroid used for intralesional injection is triamcinolone (Kenalog). Triamcinolone injections have been the standard treatment to induce flattening, fading, and decreased symptomatology of hypertrophied scars.^34,35,36,37 These injections can be administered as soon as a problem scar is identified. The dose of the injection can vary from 10-120 mg, depending on the size of the scar.³⁴

An algorithm has been described that recommends the use of a triamcinolone injection for thin-to-wide hypertrophied scars and silicone for very wide hypertrophied scars.³⁸ Some patients prefer triamcinolone injections to avoid applying and wearing the silicone every day for 6-12 months, especially on body areas where adherence is poor, such as the face, palms, and soles of the feet. Some patients also prefer triamcinolone injections when compression therapy may not be an option because of the location of the wound (eg, on the face). Minor adverse effects of triamcinolone injections include hypopigmentation and subcutaneous atrophy.³⁹

No time constraints exist regarding when the steroid can be administered. Some inject steroids at the time of the wound repair or scar revision. Several studies describe early use of steroid injections to treat hypertrophic scars. In general, more favorable response to steroid injections is seen in the treatment of hypertrophic scars over keloids.

Other nonsurgical options that have been described include vitamin E therapy, zinc oxide therapy, antineoplastic agents, and immunotherapy.

Surgical Therapy

If nonoperative measures are unsuccessful in the treatment of abnormal scars, operative intervention can be considered.

Certainly, the best treatment of abnormal scars is prevention. Closing wounds to orient the wound along the relaxed skin tension lines is important. A standard practice often used rather subconsciously after excision of a lesion involves assessing the direction of least tension based on the configuration of the edges of the wound or by pinching the wound.

The first-line procedure used for scar revision is fusiform excision. In general, fusiform excision does not require lengthening the scar. In order to avoid canine auricles, ensure the wound has a length-to-width ratio of 4:1. Fusiform excision is most applicable to short wounds oriented along relaxed skin tension lines.

The Millard flap procedure is similar to fusiform excision, but it involves preserving the scar and its connection to the underlying fat (see Image 1). The skin is incised in a fusiform fashion around the scar to the subcutaneous level (see Image 2). The scar is then deepithelialized, and the skin edges are approximated over the deepithelialized scar. Sometimes, the wound edges require slight undermining to close over the deepithelialized skin. The Millard flap technique is most suitable for widened depressed scars.

Scars not oriented along the relaxed skin tension lines can be modified with a Z-plasty procedure. Limbs of equal length are created for the Z-plasty. The angle of the Z dictates the length of scar tension distribution and elongation (eg, 30° for 25%, 45° for 50%, 60° for 75%, 75° for 100%, 90° for 120%). If the hypertrophic scar developed because of excessive tension across the wound as a result of unfavorable wound orientation, Z-plasty can sometimes help reorient the wound to distribute tension in a different direction to minimize the risk of recurrence.

The W-plasty technique for scar revision is similar to Z-plasty because it breaks up a straight-line scar into a pattern that is less conspicuous. Similar to a fusiform excision, W-plasty involves the removal of skin; therefore, avoid this method if significant tension is present across the wound edges. The technique of W-plasty is time-consuming and challenging; therefore, it is less popular. W-plasty scar revision is most suitable for scars along relaxed skin tension lines; scars with a bowstring contracture; short, depressed scars; and facial scars (see Image 3).

Tissue expansion and serial excision can be considered for larger scar revisions when excess wound tension is predicted.⁴⁰ If more than 2 serial excisions are expected, tissue expansion is preferred. Other procedures that have been described to treat scars include dermabrasion, cryosurgery, and laser therapy.

Widened scars are treated differently than hypertrophied scars. Widened scars can be flat or even depressed. Therefore, the administration of intralesional steroids is not recommended; these agents could worsen the depression. Widened scars are best treated with the Millard 2-flap technique over a deepithelialized scar. This technique provides soft tissue fill under the approximated wound edges (see Image 2). Furthermore, if the widened scar recurs, the risk for another recurrence can be minimized by reorienting the wound tension along the lines of relaxed skin tension. Other techniques described in the treatment of widened scars to correct the indentation include insertion of dermal-fat grafts or the injection of fat grafts or other tissue substitutes (hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxyapatite recombinants). However, these materials are known to resorb with time.

Postoperatively, compression garments and silicone gel are encouraged for 4-6 months to optimize the result and decrease the risk of recurrence. Furthermore, steroid injection can be considered at the time of hypertrophic or keloid scar revision to decrease risk of recurrence. To decrease risk of scar widening, patients are encouraged to refrain from strenuous activities for at least 6 weeks, until which time the wound achieves approximately 80% original wound tensile strength. Patients are monitored for 6 months postoperatively to detect and potentially circumvent recurrences early.

Complications

Postoperatively, patients are at risk for hypertrophic scar and widened scar recurrence. Other risks are similar to any procedure and include infection, hematoma, seroma, painful or unattractive scarring, delayed wound healing, and need for additional surgery. When delayed wound healing transpires over several years (>15y), a risk exists for malignant transformation to a skin cancer similar to a Marjolin ulcer.

• Search for CME/CE on This Topic »

• Wound Healing, Healing and Repair (Plastic Surgery)
• Wound Healing, Skin (Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery)
• Wound Healing, Growth Factors (Plastic Surgery)
• Wound Healing, Nerve (Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery)

• Procedures Center
• Skin, Hair, and Nails Center
• Suture Care Introduction
• Physician Treatment for Suture Care
• Wound Care Introduction
• Removing Stitches Introduction

• Pre-Op Smoking Cessation Improves Head and Neck Surgery Outcomes
• Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Effective for Foot and Ankle Injuries
• Adenovirus-P53 Gene Therapy Feasible for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• The Effects of Topical and Systemic Beta Glucan Administration on Wound Healing Impaired by Corticosteroids
• Prophylactic Administration of Avotermin May Improve Wound Healing
• Peripheral Arterial Perfusion: Is it Adequate for Wound Healing?

• Wound Management Resource Center