CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KELOID AND HYPERTROPHIC SCARS IN PATIENT TREATED AT KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - JEDDAH

Aim: Keloid (KD) and Hypertrophic (HS) scars affected patients and frustrated physicians. This study aimed to analyze clinical, anatomical site and specific morphological characteristics of KD and HS scars that might help understanding their pathophysiology and to reach to the appropriate management. Methods: Total of 125 patients [keloid (n=57), hypertrophic (n=63) and combined (n=5) scars] were recruited from Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery unit at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during period (2000-2005). Patients were clinically assessed. Seventy-three KD and 87 HS were evaluated morphologically. Results: Abnormal scars were more in females than males (p 0.01), Saudi than non-Saudi (p 0.05), healthy than with comorbid patient (p 0.000), brown than white, black colored (p 0.000), patients with negative than positive family history (p 0.000). Commonest age of KD and HS were (20-29 and 10-19 years, respectively). Commonest etiology of keloid, combined keloid and hypertrophic scars was burn while hypertrophic scar was trauma. Commonest symptoms were pruritus. Keloids, hypertrophic scars were mostly single. Commonest site of keloid was chest (21.9%) while for hypertrophy scars were face (26.4%). KD and HS showed different morphological appearance in different anatomical areas.. Conclusion: Keloid and hypetrophic scars are not uncommon in Saudi Arabia. We demonstrated that female, young age, brown color has significant effect on clinical presentation of keloid and hypertrophic scarring