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Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 1/2023

23-12-2022 | Keloid | Review

Efficacy and Safety of Verapamil Versus Triamcinolone Acetonide in Treating Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors: Wei Zhang, Xiaojing Li, Xinyi Li

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Keloids and hypertrophic scars can affect the appearance and normal function of patients, and may severely affect patients’ physical and mental health. Many methods have been used for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars, there is no standardized method so far. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of verapamil and triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) in treating keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Methods

All studies from their inception date up to August 2022 were searched using four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE). The weighted mean differences and the risk ratio were calculated for comparing continuous variables and dichotomous variables, respectively.

Results

A total of nine randomized controlled trials involving 567 patients were identified. This meta-analysis indicated that TAC group showed significantly better effects compared with verapamil group in the reduction of height at 3 and 9 weeks, pliability at 3, 9, and 18 weeks, vascularity at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 weeks, whereas verapamil group showed significantly better effects compared with TAC group in the reduction of pliability at 21 and 24 weeks. Verapamil group showed a significantly lower incidence of skin atrophy, telangiectasia, and hypopigmentation compared with TAC group. However, the incidence of burning sensation in verapamil group was higher than that in TAC group.

Conclusion

Concerning the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars, TAC was more effective than verapamil for improving vascularity; TAC was superior to verapamil in improving height within 9 weeks of treatment; TAC produced superior result for improving pliability within 18 weeks of treatment, whereas verapamil produced superior result between 18 and 24 weeks of treatment. Verapamil had fewer adverse events than TAC and can be used as a safer alternative for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Level of Evidence II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
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Metadata
Title
Efficacy and Safety of Verapamil Versus Triamcinolone Acetonide in Treating Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors
Wei Zhang
Xiaojing Li
Xinyi Li
Publication date
23-12-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03229-3

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