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A presentation at the Triological Society's 2012 Combined Sections Meeting held in January highlighted that, when compared with white patients, black patients have a sevenfold increased risk for developing keloid scarring following surgery in the head and neck area.
Dr. Lamont Jones and colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, conducted a retrospective chart review of 6,692 patients who had head and neck procedures requiring incisions between 2005 and 2009. Twenty patients developed keloid scarring as a result of their surgery. Keloid rates according to ethnicity were 0.8% in black patients, 0.1% in white patients, and 0.2% in other ethnic groups.
They explain, however, that the keloid rate in black patients is actually significantly lower than previous estimates, which have been as high as 16%.
There were no differences in keloid formation according to gender. Patients who developed keloid scars tended to be younger in age, but the age difference was not statistically significant.
While the decreased rates of keloid formation compared to previous estimates can be reassuring for many black patients who fear surgery, the increased risk over other ethnic groups is still real and should be discussed in preoperative discussions.
- Naissan Wesley, M.D.
Do you have questions about treating patients with darker skin? If so, send them to [email protected].
A presentation at the Triological Society's 2012 Combined Sections Meeting held in January highlighted that, when compared with white patients, black patients have a sevenfold increased risk for developing keloid scarring following surgery in the head and neck area.
Dr. Lamont Jones and colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, conducted a retrospective chart review of 6,692 patients who had head and neck procedures requiring incisions between 2005 and 2009. Twenty patients developed keloid scarring as a result of their surgery. Keloid rates according to ethnicity were 0.8% in black patients, 0.1% in white patients, and 0.2% in other ethnic groups.
They explain, however, that the keloid rate in black patients is actually significantly lower than previous estimates, which have been as high as 16%.
There were no differences in keloid formation according to gender. Patients who developed keloid scars tended to be younger in age, but the age difference was not statistically significant.
While the decreased rates of keloid formation compared to previous estimates can be reassuring for many black patients who fear surgery, the increased risk over other ethnic groups is still real and should be discussed in preoperative discussions.
- Naissan Wesley, M.D.
Do you have questions about treating patients with darker skin? If so, send them to [email protected].
A presentation at the Triological Society's 2012 Combined Sections Meeting held in January highlighted that, when compared with white patients, black patients have a sevenfold increased risk for developing keloid scarring following surgery in the head and neck area.
Dr. Lamont Jones and colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, conducted a retrospective chart review of 6,692 patients who had head and neck procedures requiring incisions between 2005 and 2009. Twenty patients developed keloid scarring as a result of their surgery. Keloid rates according to ethnicity were 0.8% in black patients, 0.1% in white patients, and 0.2% in other ethnic groups.
They explain, however, that the keloid rate in black patients is actually significantly lower than previous estimates, which have been as high as 16%.
There were no differences in keloid formation according to gender. Patients who developed keloid scars tended to be younger in age, but the age difference was not statistically significant.
While the decreased rates of keloid formation compared to previous estimates can be reassuring for many black patients who fear surgery, the increased risk over other ethnic groups is still real and should be discussed in preoperative discussions.
- Naissan Wesley, M.D.
Do you have questions about treating patients with darker skin? If so, send them to [email protected].