Quantitative Evaluation of the Clinical Evolution of Traumatic Onycholysis after Laser Treatment

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.