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Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of keloid scars following cochlear implant surgery and removal of cholesteatoma

  • Case Report
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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development of hypertrophic scars and keloids is a relatively common complication of different otologic procedures involving incision of the skin behind the ear. This case report aims to describe the successful treatment of keloids that developed following ear surgeries that have been performed via a retro-auricular approach (cochlear implantation and the removal of cholesteatoma) by an intralesional cryosurgery method. Two patients who were previously operated for an extensive pediatric cholesteatoma and one patient who underwent a cochlear implant surgery have developed large keloids at the radix helix. The keloids were treated under local anesthesia by the intralesional cryosurgery method. Over a 6-month period, the scars gradually flattened and became paler and the clinical symptoms of itchiness, pain, and tenderness have significantly been reduced. No complications were documented, and there were no recurrences in a follow-up period of 30 months. This case report demonstrates that intralesional cryosurgery provides the surgeon with an effective method to treat keloid scars following the removal of cholesteatoma or cochlear implantation, thus improving the quality of life and body image and enabling the patients to use the implanted device in an adequate and satisfactory way.

Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Ariel Roitman

  2. The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Ariel Roitman, Michal Luntz & Yaron Har-Shai

  3. Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Ariel Roitman & Yaron Har-Shai

  4. The Ear and Hearing Program, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Michal Luntz

  5. Department of Otolaryngology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Michal Luntz

  6. Aram, Advanced Center for Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Michal Luntz

  7. The Unit of Plastic Surgery, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, 3436212, Haifa, Israel

    Yaron Har-Shai

Authors
  1. Ariel Roitman
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  2. Michal Luntz
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  3. Yaron Har-Shai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaron Har-Shai.

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Funding

This study was not funded.

Conflict of interest

Yaron Har-Shai has a financial interest in the intralesional cryosurgery technology. Ariel Roitman and Michal Luntz declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

This study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee (HTA1411), Carmel Medical Center, and the Medical Devices Department (Registered Number 2800-0000), Health Technology and Infrastructure Administration, Israel Ministry of Health.

Patient consent

The patient’s parents or the patient himself signed an informed consent prior to the cryotreatment. Additional consent was obtained for the use of their mages.

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Roitman, A., Luntz, M. & Har-Shai, Y. Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of keloid scars following cochlear implant surgery and removal of cholesteatoma. Eur J Plast Surg 39, 307–312 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1183-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1183-9

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