Long-Pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Ingrown Toenails and Pincer Nails

The document reports on the use of a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser (LP-Nd:YAG) as a noninvasive treatment for ingrown toenails and pincer nails. The study involved 17 patients with 20 ingrown toenails and 15 patients with 31 pincer nails, all of whom complained of toe pain on walking. The laser treatment coagulated inflammatory granulation in ingrown toenails with a high success rate of 90%, resolving the condition in 18 out of 20 cases. For pincer nails, the laser softened the nail plate, allowing for correction of its shape, which alleviated pain in all 31 cases, with a low recurrence rate of 6.4%. No serious complications were reported during the observation period. The LP-Nd:YAG laser's properties of deeper tissue penetration and nonselective heating were effective in coagulating and removing inflammatory granulation and softening the nail plate for correction. The study concluded that the LP-Nd:YAG laser is a useful and safe treatment option for ingrown or pincer nails, and future work will focus on standardizing a treatment protocol.