RESULTS OF CRYOSURGERY IN 394 PATIENTS WI TH HYPERTROPHIC SCARS AND KELOIDS

Cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen led to total or partial success in 64 % of 336 patients with keloids and in 82% of 58 persons with hypertrop hic scars. In 11% and 3% of the patients, respectively, the results we re disappointing. In 19% and 12%, patients broke off the painful and l ong-term therapy. Nonetheless, in view of the results of other therape utic methods, we prefer cryosurgery (either as monotherapy or combined with corticoids or conventional surgery) for keloids. For hypertrophi c scars, however, the therapy is restricted to exceptional cases since nearly all lesions regress spontaneously within a few years.