A study of the microbiological profile of filler-induced skin necrosis

Use of the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase protocol in the management of impending skin necrosis associated with hyaluronic acid fillers: a systematic review

Impending skin necrosis resulting from inadvertent intravascular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers can lead to tissue loss and significant scarring. In recent years, management trends have shifted from multimodal approaches to the sole use of high doses of hyaluronidase. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase management protocol in preventing skin necrosis and possible subsequent scarring. An online search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and Embase yielded 3039 articles. A total of 72 studies reporting 186 cases were found to be eligible for inclusion. The selection and evaluation process was done according to the PRISMA criteria. Included studies were assessed using the JBI and STROBE critical appraisal tools. The analysis of treatment outcomes was done according to the timing of treatment initiation and the type of intervention used. This review found that an immediate intervention using the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase management protocol provided predictable and satisfactory outcomes. Initiating the protocol within 24 h of filler injection halted the progression of necrosis and prevented permanent sequelae. The conclusions are limited by the lack of a high level of evidence, since the only available sources of data are case reports and case series.