Toe Keloids Treated with Core Excision, Postoperative Radiotherapy, and Steroid Plaster

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Keloids are common in certain body areas but rare on toes.
• Existing literature indicates toe keloids are difficult to treat.

Observation:

• A 21-year-old woman presented with multiple large toe keloids following ingrown-nail surgery.
• A recurrent keloid on the second toe had circumferentially engulfed the digit.
• Conservative treatments proved ineffective for the patient's toe keloids.

Findings:

• A combination therapy of core excision surgery and postoperative radiotherapy was employed.
• Post-surgical treatment included continuous steroid plaster application to reduce induration.
• The patient showed significant improvement with no keloid recurrence at 1.5 years post-treatment.

Implications:

• This combined therapeutic approach offers a highly effective strategy for managing rare and challenging toe keloids.
• The findings suggest a promising treatment protocol for recalcitrant keloid cases on digits.
• Successful management of toe keloids can significantly improve patient appearance and quality of life.