Clinical comparison of the scanning CO2 laser and conventional surgery in the treatment of ingrown nail deformities.
OBJECTIVE
To compare statistically the clinical effects and postoperative course of the scanning CO(2) laser and conventional surgical method to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the former for the treatment of ingrown nail deformities.


METHODS
We performed vaporization of the nail matrix using the scanning CO(2) laser in 25 cases with ingrown nail deformities.


RESULTS
In 21 cases, the recurrence of ingrown nail deformity was not observed during follow-up. All cases were free of postoperative infection. Use of the scanning CO(2) laser reduced postoperative pain, and all patients were able to return to their daily activities by day 3 post-surgery without any problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistically, the operating time and the duration of postoperative pain were reduced significantly by the scanning CO(2) laser. Furthermore, patients treated with CO(2) laser were able to return to daily life significantly sooner.
Tada
H
H
Department of Dermatology, Division of Plastic Surgery, Nara Prefectural Nara Hosital, Japan. h-tada@topaz.ocn.ne.jp
Hatoko
M
M
Tanaka
A
A
Iioka
H
H
Niitsuma
K
K
Mashiba
K
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence