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CompletedNCT07718269MISTUpdated Jul 22, 2026

Microneedling vs. 5-Fluorouracil or Steroid Injections for Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids

A Phase 4 interventional study of Microneedling with 5-Fluorouracil and Intralesional 5-fluorouracil in Keloid Scars and Hypertrophic Scar, sponsored by Alexandria University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-22.

Sponsored by Alexandria University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the efficacy and safety of microneedling-assisted 5-fluorouracil delivery in comparison with intralesional 5-fluorouracil, intralesional corticosteroid, and microneedling with saline for the treatment of pathological scars.

Read the detailed description

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are dermal fibroproliferative disorders unique to humans. They are common and usually occur following burns, trauma, inflammation, or surgery, but sometimes occur spontaneously. Despite an array of therapeutic approaches for scar therapy such as surgical excision, occlusive dressings, topical and intralesional corticosteroids, interferon, cryosurgery, radiation, pressure therapy, laser therapy, retinoic acid, and silicone gel sheeting, no single method provides complete benefit. For this reason, the medical care of HTSs and keloids remains clinically challenging. The study was conducted on 60 patients complaining of HTSs \& keloids.

02

Conditions studied

  • Keloid Scars
  • Hypertrophic Scar

Keywords

  • keloid
  • Hypertrophic scars
  • Microneedling
  • 5-Fluorouracil
  • Corticosteroids
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • patients diagnosed with HTSs or keloids

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant or lactating females, immunocompromised patients
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Microneedling with 5-Fluorouracil

    Intervention Name: Microneedling With 5 Fluorouracil Intervention Type: Procedure

    Procedure: Microneedling with 5-Fluorouracil

  • Active comparator
    Intralesional 5-Fluorouracil

    Intervention name: Intralesional 5-Fluorouracil Intervention Type: drug

    Drug: Intralesional 5-fluorouracil

  • Active comparator
    Intralesional Corticosteroids

    Intervention name: Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Intervention type: drug

    Drug: Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide

  • Placebo comparator
    Microneedling with normal saline

    Intervention name: Microneedling with normal saline Intervention type: Procedure

    Procedure: Microneedling With saline

Interventions

  • ProcedureMicroneedling with 5-Fluorouracil

    Undiluted 5-FU was applied topically after microneedling

  • DrugIntralesional 5-fluorouracil

    undiluted 5-fluorouracil was applied topically

  • DrugIntralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide

    Triamcinolone acetonide was administered intralesionally

  • ProcedureMicroneedling With saline

    saline was applied after microneedling

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Vancouver Scar Scale

    To detect the Change in scar severity assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale based on four scar characteristics (vascularity 0-3, pliability 0-5, height 0-3, pigmentation 0-2) with the minimum total score 0 (normal) and the maximum total score 13 (most severe scar). Higher scores after treatment mean worse outcome.

    Time frame: 3 weeks

  2. ImageJ Analysis

    To objectively assess scar surface area. To quantify treatment effect, the percentage of change in scar area was calculated for each patient using the formula: ■("Percentage of change=" ("Post treatment area - Baseline area" /"Baseline area" )"×100" ), Higher scores mean worse outcomes.

    Time frame: 3 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient's satisfaction score

    grade 0 (No satisfaction), grade I (poor less than 25%), grade II (fair 25-50%), grade III (Good 51-75%) and grade IV (Excellent 76-100%). The minimum total score 0 and the maximum total score 100. The higher scores mean a better outcome

    Time frame: 3 weeks

  2. visual analogue scale

    to assess pain and pruritus. The minimum score is 0 indicated no pain or itching and the maximum score 10 represented the most severe pain or itching. The higher score mean a worse outcome

    Time frame: 3 weeks

06

Study locations

1 site
  • alexandria University Hospital
    Alexandria, Egypt
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — PD will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and ethical considerations

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07718269
Lead sponsor
Alexandria University
Responsible party
Shimaa Ismail Abdelhamid (Associate Professor of Dermatology, Alexandria University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 21, 2026
Start date
Jan 12, 2023
Primary completion
Jan 15, 2024
Completion
Mar 8, 2025
Last update
Jul 22, 2026

Study contacts

Shaimaa Ismail Omar, MD
principal investigator · Alexandria University
Yehia Farouk Al-Jarem, MD
study director · Alexandria University
Alaa Tarek Abd El Maksoud, MBBCH
study chair · Alexandria University
Marwa Essawy
study chair · Alexandria University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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