Abstract
Nail disorders are the most frequent reason for visits to the podiatry clinic. Although they are not a severe health problem, these types of pathologies have a psychosocial impact on patients, affecting their self-esteem and leading to social and professional self-isolation that can cause anxiety and depression. Laser therapy is considered a potential treatment for nail disorders because it is a fast, easily applied treatment that avoids interaction with medication. However, the literature includes no definitive studies with scientific evidence about the efficacy of laser treatment in traumatic onycholysis, the most frequent clinical sign of nail disorders. Objective: We carried out an objective and quantitative study of the efficacy of laser in treating traumatic onycholysis to provide a new, non-invasive treatment for this pathology, and describe an objective method for its clinical evaluation and evolution. Methods: A strictly repetitive protocol of Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser (PinPointe FootLaser™, Spain) was applied to nails with idiopathic disorders, following the manufacturer’s instructions. The clinical evolution of nail dystrophy was quantitatively evaluated using the affected percentage of the longitudinal axis of the nail. Results: A significant improvement was obtained in nail appearance (dystrophy) in 100% of cases (p < 0.006) after treatment with Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser. Conclusion: Treating traumatic onycholysis with Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser can be a good alternative to conventional pharmacological treatments.
Highlights
Nail disorders are increasing in prevalence worldwide [1]
This study reports objective measurement of traumatic onycholysis, one of the main clinical signs of nail disorders, treated homogeneously with Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser, and describes an objective method for its clinical evaluation
The study was performed on 10 nails that after a clinical evaluation were diagnosed with onycholysis on the first toe associated with an anatomical alteration, and fungal infection was ruled out by culture
Summary
Psychosocial limitations together with high levels of stigma [6] can have significant negative effects on the working life and social participation of sufferers who experience these negative effects. These limitations can occur at any time of life [7,8]. Onychodystrophies are one of the most frequent reasons for podiatry visits, and patients demand rapid, applied treatments for them [9,10] Comorbidities such as immunodepression status, diabetes mellitus, organ transplant, vascular insufficiency, and the use of corticosteroids and antineoplastic drugs are increasing the prevalence of onychodystrophies and nail infection, and potential for interaction with pharmacological treatment is high [9,11]
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