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A Network Meta-analysis to Explore the Effectiveness of the Different Treatment Modalities in Acne Scars

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Abstract

Background

Multiple treatments are used to treat acne scars, but comparing the effectiveness of these treatments have not been studied yet. This research aimed to conduct a complete analysis of the effectiveness of commonly used therapies in acne scars.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane's Library (Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials) databases were searched through May 2023. We used patient satisfaction score as the primary outcome and Goodman Baron qualitative scar grading system as the secondary outcome to evaluate the effectiveness of different commonly used therapies for acne scarring, including laser, microneedling (MN), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous fat grafting and combined therapies.

Results

Herein, 495 patients from 13 studies were included. Our results showed that PRP combined with laser was the most effective among therapies in treating acne scars. Ranking of effectiveness by the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve for patient satisfaction score was as following: PRP + laser (96.2%) > laser (71.2%) > MN (45.5%) > MN + PRP (42.0%) > autologous fat grafting (24.5%) > PRP (20.5%). Additionally, ranking of effectiveness by the SUCRA curve for Goodman Baron qualitative scar grading system was as following: PRP + laser (86.3%) > laser (64.2%) > MN + PRP (54.2%) > MN (37.2%) > PRP (8.1%).

Conclusion

This network meta-analysis indicated that the combined therapy of PRP and laser might be the most effective. Additionally, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to verify our findings.

Level of Evidence I

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors  www.springer.com/00266.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 82272285), Clinical research incubation project of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (2023IITZD08) and Military Medical Science and Technology Youth Training Program (21QNPY026).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China

    Min Jiang, Tian Liu, ** Zhang

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  1. Min Jiang
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  2. Tian Liu
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  3. **aoqiang Liu
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  4. Luojia Liu
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  5. Xupin Jiang
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  6. Ze Zhang
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  8. Chao Wu
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  9. Jia** Zhang
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Correspondence to Jia** Zhang.

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Jiang, M., Liu, T., Liu, X. et al. A Network Meta-analysis to Explore the Effectiveness of the Different Treatment Modalities in Acne Scars. Aesth Plast Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03818-w

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