The Scar Bane, Without the Pain: A New Approach in the Treatment of Elevated Scars: Thermomechanical Delivery of Topical Triamcinolone Acetonide and 5-Fluorouracil

INTRODUCTION: Keloids are challenging to treat due to their inadequate response to treatment and high recurrence rate. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) injection with or without 5-fluorouracil (5FU) is considered the first-line treatment for keloids. Three significant disadvantages of intralesional injections are the pain associated with the procedure, the uneven topography, and epidermal atrophy. Fractionated ablative carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) of the topical solution can help facilitate transdermal drug delivery and shows promise in scar remodeling. This study examined the use of a thermomechanical device (Tixel, Novoxel) to facilitate the transdermal delivery of TAC and 5-FU in the treatment of keloid scars. METHODS: Seven patients each received eight topical thermal ablations, with one ablation performed every 2–3 weeks. TAC and 5FU were applied after each ablation. Outcomes were evaluated using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), and pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Mean keloid VSS reduced from 8.6 ± 1.2 to 5 ± 2.7 after the eight treatments. Mean treatment pain VAS score was 2.4 ± 0.7. Patients rated their satisfaction level as moderate–high. No severe adverse reactions were noted. CONCLUSION: Thermomechanical drug delivery of TAC and 5-FU is safe and effective. This is a promising option for the treatment of keloid scars, particularly in the pediatric population.