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KTP laser comparable to PDL in treating surgical scars

A 532-nm potassium titanyl phosphate laser was as safe and effective as a 595-nm pulsed dye laser in treating erythematous surgical scars, according to recently published study results.

Terrence C. Keaney, MD, and colleagues studied 20 patients (19 women; mean age, 50 years) with matched bilateral erythematous surgical scars or a single linear erythematous scar longer than 5 cm. The patients had Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV and scars that were less than 24 months after surgery.

Terrence C. Keaney

Equal halves of the single scars were randomly assigned to receive three successive treatments at 6-week intervals with either a 532-nm potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser (Excel V, Cutera) or a 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL; Cynergy, Cynosure) using equivalent laser parameters. Three 532-nm KTP or 595-PDL treatments also were applied to bilateral matched scars in a randomized order.

Independent, blinded photographic scar assessments were used to evaluate clinical efficacy at 12 weeks after the final laser treatments.

Final investigator and subject treatment/satisfaction assessments, Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores, subject scar symptoms, intraoperative pain scores and side effect incidents were secondary evaluations.

Eighteen patients completed treatments and follow-up. Treatment with both systems resulted in clinical improvement of erythematous surgical scars.

Blinded photographic scar assessments showed median improvements score of 2 (95% CI, 1-2.5) for the KTP and 1.5 (95% CI, 0.0-2) for 595-mn PDL; the difference was not statistically significant.

The investigator and subject treatment/satisfaction assessments, subject scar symptoms and intraoperative pain scores noted no statistical difference between the two treatments.

“The KTP arm produced statistically significant improvement for the vascularity component of the VSS only,” the researchers wrote.

Mild discomfort during treatment and minimal transient posttreatment erythema and purpura were reported side effects. There were no reports of vesiculation, infection, scarring or other adverse events.

“The KTP was slightly more effective at reducing scar erythema, which may be due to enhanced oxyhemoglobin absorption,” the researchers concluded. “Although not seen in this study, the KTP laser may be limited in the treatment of hypertrophic scars because of the limited depth of penetration seen with the shorter 532 nm wavelength.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.