Evaluating the Efficacy of Five-Blades Scratcher Surgery in Rhinophyma Treatment: A 3D Reconstruction Approach

Rosacea, particularly in its rhinophyma stage, causes nasal tissue hyperplasia and hypertrophy, which existing treatments often fail to address effectively without scarring. This study employs three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology in a controlled trial to objectively evaluate the efficacy and morphologic outcomes of 5-blades scratcher therapy, aiming to provide evidence for its clinical application.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and morphologic changes of 5-blades scratcher surgery (cutaneous tag resection combined with epidermal scarification) in the treatment of rhinophyma through a controlled trial combined with 3D reconstruction technology.

A total of 32 patients with rhinophyma were enrolled and randomly divided into an experimental group (scarification group, n=16) and a control group (carbon dioxide laser group, n=16). In the experimental group, a 5-blade knife was used for the resection of hyperplastic tissues and reticular scarification. In the control group, treatment was performed using an UltraPulse carbon dioxide laser. Efficacy was evaluated through clinical scoring of erythema, telangiectasia, sebum secretion, and skin thickening, as well as 3D morphologic analysis. Blender software was used for 3D reconstruction, and volume calculation was completed using COMSOL Multiphysics.

After treatment, both groups showed significant improvements in erythema, telangiectasia, sebum secretion, and skin thickening ( P <0.05). The experimental group exhibited significantly better improvements in skin thickening and sebum secretion compared with the control group ( P <0.05). Three-dimensional analysis revealed that the percentage reduction in nasal volume in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P <0.05).

Five-blades scratcher surgery is superior to carbon dioxide laser in improving skin thickening, sebum secretion, and quality of life in the treatment of rhinophyma, and it can reduce nasal volume more significantly. Three-dimensional reconstruction technology provides an objective and quantitative method for efficacy evaluation. Five-blades scratcher surgery has clinical promotion value, but further multicenter studies are needed to verify its long-term efficacy and underlying mechanisms.