Surgery for Port-Wine Stains: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Vascular Malformations

Background:

• Port-wine stains (PWS) are congenital vascular malformations.
• PWS can thicken and darken over time, often resisting standard laser therapy.
• Tissue hypertrophy in PWS presents a treatment challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role and effectiveness of surgical interventions for treating port-wine stains (PWS).
• To assess surgical outcomes for PWS, particularly those with resistant hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
• The search focused on studies published between January 2010 and December 2020, using specific keywords for PWS and surgical treatments.
• Ten relevant articles were identified for analysis.

Main Results:

• The identified studies were predominantly case series with limited follow-up periods.
• Objective evaluation scores were generally lacking in the analyzed literature.
• Analysis suggests potential for surgical intervention in specific PWS cases.

Conclusions:

• Delayed treatment of PWS can lead to significant soft tissue and bone hypertrophy, causing disfigurement.
• Surgical correction, often involving bone and soft tissue procedures, is necessary for PWS-related facial asymmetry.
• Surgical approaches aim for harmonious and predictable aesthetic results in PWS treatment.