Effect of the combination of photobiomodulation therapy and the intralesional administration of corticoid in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid surgery: A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial protocol study

Keloid scars are characterized by the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and an imbalance between the production and degradation of collagen, leading to its buildup in the dermis. There is no "gold standard" treatment for this condition, and the recurrence is frequent after surgical procedures removal. In vitro studies have demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) using the blue wavelength reduces the proliferation speed and the number of fibroblasts as well as the expression of TGF-β. There are no protocols studied and established for the treatment of keloids with blue LED. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the combination of PBM with blue light and the intralesional administration of the corticoid triamcinolone hexacetonide on the quality of the remaining scar by Vancouver Scar Scale in the postoperative period of keloid surgery. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial will be conducted involving two groups: 1) Sham (n = 29): intralesional administration of corticoid (IAC) and sham PBM in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery; and 2) active PBM combined with IAC (n = 29) in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery.