The intralesional cryosurgery technique – A new and effective technology for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids

The therapeutic management of hypertrophic scars and keloids (HSK) remains a challenge. In 1982, Shepherd and Dawber were the first to apply cryosurgery as a monotherapy regimen for treating HSK. Although this single cryosurgical session achieved 80% improvement, a high recurrence rate of 33% was observed. Further monotherapy studies were lacking, perhaps indefinitely delayed by the rather disappointing relapse rate, until Mende , Zouboulis and Orfanos and others showed that repeated surface/spray cryosurgical sessions can have a beneficial effect on HSK (between 68% – 81% remission), with almost no (2%) recurrence.