Plasma-based wound healing

The efficacy and safety of the innovative cold atmospheric-pressure plasma technology in the treatment of striae distensae: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Available current therapeutics modalities for striae distensae (SD) provide inconsistently effective outcomes. There is ongoing research on innovative treatment modalities to find better treatment solutions.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of innovative cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology in the treatment of striae distensae.

METHODS

This study includes twenty-three patients with striae distensae. The body was divided into two halves. One side was randomly treated with CAP biweekly on the same treated side for five sessions with 30 days follow-up after the last session. Another half was left untreated. Efficacy assessment was done using patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS), patient satisfaction scales, and Antera 3D® skin imaging system. Safety assessment was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and adverse effects monitoring.

RESULTS

Patient and observer scar assessment scale, patient and observer overall opinion score, and patient and observer total score in a summary of all rated characteristics, comparing treated and untreated areas, showed a statistically significant reduction in all parameters after one treatment (*p-value <0.05). Patients rated satisfaction as a great improvement in 52.3%, moderate improvement in 39.1%, extreme improvement in 4.3%, and slight improvement in 4.3%. Adverse effects included small scabs, shallow wounds, and rash.

CONCLUSION

Cold atmospheric plasma is a safe and effective, innovative treatment modality for striae distensae with minimal side effects.

Efficacy and safety of the innovative cold atmospheric-pressure plasma technology in the treatment of keloid: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Keloid (KD) treatment is challenging for both physicians and patients. It can be functional debilitating and psychologically distressing. Available current therapeutics modalities give inconsistently effective results.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of innovative cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology in the treatment of keloid.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized control trial, the assessor-blinded trial, includes 18 patients with keloids. The keloid lesion was divided into two halves. One side was randomly treated with CAP technology biweekly on the same treated side for five sessions with a follow-up 30 days after finishing the final treatment. Another half was left untreated as a control. Efficacy assessment using POSAS, VSS, Patients' satisfaction scale, Antera 3D® skin imaging system. The safety assessment using VAS and adverse effects monitoring was completed.

RESULTS

Objective assessment using Antera 3D® skin imaging system (Miravex, Dublin, Ireland) showed statistically significant improvement (p-value <0.05) on the treated side compared with the untreated side in all parameters, color, melanin, hemoglobin, texture, except for volume. POSAS, patient, and observer overall opinion score, and patient and observer total score in the summary of all rated characteristics, comparing the treated and untreated areas, showed a statistically significant reduction in all parameters after two treatments (*p-value <0.05). VSS showed statistically significant improvement after the second treatment and continued to the last follow-up. Most patients rated satisfaction scales up to 72.2% as moderate improvement, 11.1% as great improvement, 11.1% as slight improvement, and 5.6% as no change. The adverse effect was only a small scab in one patient.

CONCLUSION

CAP technology could be considered an alternative treatment for keloid offering mild-to-moderate improvement with minimal side effects.