Analysis of Therapeutic Interventions for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scarring: A Systematic Review

This systematic review compares the efficacy of pressure garment therapy (PGT) and non-PGT treatments, such as triamcinolone, verapamil, and laser therapies, for hypertrophic and keloid scars. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted. Studies that evaluated the efficacy of PGT or non-PGT interventions using standardized scar assessment scales (VSS, POSAS) were included. A total of 753 articles were screened, and 12 studies involving 397 participants met the inclusion criteria. Interventions on the VSS scale compared included PGT, triamcinolone, verapamil, bleomycin, silicone gel, laser therapy, Botulinum toxin, and massage therapy. Triamcinolone showed the greatest scar reduction (82.2%), followed by Nd:YAG laser (65.44%) and verapamil (57.7%). Early intervention PGT demonstrated a 30.2% reduction, while late intervention PGT showed only a 4.5% decrease. Triamcinolone is the most effective treatment for hypertrophic and keloid scars, but evidence supporting PGT is inconsistent. Further research is needed to standardize treatment protocols and improve clinical outcomes.