Long-pulse Nd：YAG 1064-nm laser treatment for onychomycosis

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2012-09, Vol.125 (18), p.3288-3291
• Main Authors: Zhang, Rui-na, Wang, Dong-kun, Zhuo, Feng-lin, Duan, Xiao-han, Zhang, Xiao-yan, Zhao, Jun-ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Lasers, Solid-State - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Onychomycosis - surgery; YAG; Young Adult; 时间间隔; 替代治疗; 治疗效果; 激光治疗; 纳米; 长脉冲; 随机分配
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2012.18.017

Background Recent research shows that lasers can inhibit fungal growth and that Nd：YAG 1064-nm lasers can penetrate as deep as the lower nail plate. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a long-pulse Nd：YAG 1064-nm laser on 154 nails of 33 patients with clinically and mycologically proven onychomycosis. Methods Thirty-three patients with 154 nails affected by onychomycosis were randomly assigned to two groups, with the 154 nails divided into three sub-groups （Ⅱ degree,Ⅲ degree, and IV degree） according to the Scoring Clinical Index of Onychomycosis. The 15 patients （78 nails） in group 1 were given eight sessions with a one-week interval, and the 18 patients （76 nails） in group 2 were given four sessions with a one-week interval. Results In group 1, the effective rates at 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks were 63%, 62%, and 51%, respectively, and the effective rates in group 2 were 68%, 67%, and 53% respectively. The treatment effect was not significantly different between any sub-group pair （P 〉0.05）. Conclusions Long pulse Nd：YAG 1064-nm laser was effective for onychomycosis. It is a simple and effective method without significant complications or side effects and is expected to become an alternative or replacement therapy for onychomycosis.