Effect of a Chest Compression Device for Scar Prevention Combined with Nurse-Patient WeChat Group on Scar Formation after Keloid Excision

Objective: To investigate the effect of a chest compression device for scar prevention combined with a nurse-patient WeChat group on scar formation after keloid excision. Methods: Forty patients with chest wall keloids who underwent keloid excision surgery at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from June 2022 to June 2024 were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups: the observation group (20 cases) and the control group (20 cases). Both groups underwent routine keloid excision, followed by compression therapy for 6 months. The observation group used a chest compression device, while the control group used a compression garment. Scar width, hypertrophy, and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, age, disease course, lesion area, and lesion site (P > 0.05). The overall effective rate in the observation group was 95.00%, significantly higher than the 65.00% in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After a 6-month follow-up, all VSS indicators (except for pliability) in the observation group (using the chest compression device) were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to the traditional compression garment, the chest compression device for scar prevention is more effective in preventing scar hypertrophy after chest wall keloid excision and improving the appearance of scars. It is worth promoting for clinical application.