Treatment of atrophic scars using platelet-rich plasma and subcision : an experience at king Hussein medical center

Abstract EN

Objective : In this clinical observational study we assessed the response of atrophic scars of different etiologies to minor surgical treatment using subcision (subcutaneous incisional surgery) and platelet-rich plasma injection.

Methods : We recruited patients with atrophic and depressed scarring that are either laser-naïve or failed treatment with laser, usually due to resultant post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or poor response.

Subdermal incision (subcision) was performed and/or autologous platelet-rich plasma was injected superficially into the scar.

Patients were assessed on a scale of 1 to 10.

Some patients were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale.

Results : A grade using percentage of improvement was suggested to record results.

Based on the observer (1 to 10) scale before and after treatment, a classification of excellent, very good, good, and fair was utilized to correspond to 75 %, 50 %, 25 % and 10 % improvement, respectively.

All of the patients had good clinical improvement.

15 % of the patients had excellent improvement, 67 % of them had very good improvement, and 18 % had good improvement.

Conclusion : Subcision and platelet-rich plasma injection seem to be effective and safe methods of treatment of atrophic scarring of various etiologies and should be utilized more as a substitute or adjuvant to fractional CO2 resurfacing in cases of atrophic scarring or potential laser complications.