Ingrowing nails and carbon dioxide laser surgery

BACKGROUND: Ingrown nails are common in young people, surgery is often required and recurrence rates are high. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of CO2 laser surgery. METHODS: Three hundred and two patients were operated with the CO2 laser under local anaesthesia. RESULTS: They were evaluated one year later: nine cases (3%) recurred and we observed 15 cases (5%) of spicules. CONCLUSION: Ingrown nails are easily operated with the CO2 laser; bleeding is minimal, post-operative pain is low, infection is rare, the wounds heal without exhudative drainage and cosmetic results are good.