A Podiatry Laser Provides Patients With Better Options For Treatment
By Annabelle Holman
Lasers have captivated the imaginations of movie-goers for years, making ominous appearances as doomsday devices, or as future personal combat weapons. While special effect explosions are impressive, they pale in comparison to the real-life benefits this technology now offers to patients. Podiatry laser surgery has proven effective in treating several types of foot problems, from injuries to chronic infections.
The light produced creating these kinds of beams is monochromatic, unlike sunlight. When focused, it does not become diffuse, and contains an enormous amount of potential energy. It is used today to cut materials more precisely, to send digital data over fiber optic cable, or even to play a DVD. It has been widely employed in the medical field for over thirty years, and has proven especially beneficial in eye surgery.
When integrated into traditional surgical foot procedures, they are helping make many operations both faster and safer. Some patients experience less post-operative swelling and a shorter recovery time when compared to invasive scalpel work. Doctors who specialize in sports medicine or who often repair broken bones in the feet find that lasers are ideal both for repairing and cleaning areas of easily-damaged soft tissue.
A focused beam of light is unerringly accurate, and can precision-disintegrate small areas without causing any collateral damage. Some of the most commonly treated foot problems include the growth of painful warts on the sole, ingrown large toenails which become infected, and various kinds of painful callouses caused by inappropriate footwear. Light scalpels work so precisely that any trauma is greatly reduced.
Because of this superior accuracy, there is less chance for post-surgical bleeding. In the majority of cases, uncomplicated procedures can be carried out on an out-patient basis. Most require only a local anesthesia, and the number of necessary treatments is often reduced. Even minimally invasive surgery has the potential to result in complications, but the chances are lower when using this technology.
Fungal nail infections are extremely common today, and cause social as well as physical discomfort. Past treatments included uncomfortable removal of the nail itself, which did not always destroy the fungi. New, effective drugs are designed to be taken internally, but also have the potential for causing liver damage. Laser treatments are offering new hope for those who suffer from this condition, and often with superior results.
The light not only kills the fungi, but also sterilizes the infected area. Individual treatments are painless, and the most commonly reported sensation is a slight warmth, with no local anesthesia required. In most cases, the total procedure lasts less than an hour. While no treatment can accurately claim 100% success, most of these infections begin to improve after only one session, compared to many weeks using internal medications.
Although currently most used for non- or minimally-invasive treatments, this technology is increasingly being integrated into the treatment of sports-related ligament and tendon problems, as well as agonizing conditions such as hammertoes. Certain kinds of neuropathy and arthritic complications also benefit. Patients report minimal residual scar tissue, better mobility, and generally reduced discomfort and healing time.
The light produced creating these kinds of beams is monochromatic, unlike sunlight. When focused, it does not become diffuse, and contains an enormous amount of potential energy. It is used today to cut materials more precisely, to send digital data over fiber optic cable, or even to play a DVD. It has been widely employed in the medical field for over thirty years, and has proven especially beneficial in eye surgery.
When integrated into traditional surgical foot procedures, they are helping make many operations both faster and safer. Some patients experience less post-operative swelling and a shorter recovery time when compared to invasive scalpel work. Doctors who specialize in sports medicine or who often repair broken bones in the feet find that lasers are ideal both for repairing and cleaning areas of easily-damaged soft tissue.
A focused beam of light is unerringly accurate, and can precision-disintegrate small areas without causing any collateral damage. Some of the most commonly treated foot problems include the growth of painful warts on the sole, ingrown large toenails which become infected, and various kinds of painful callouses caused by inappropriate footwear. Light scalpels work so precisely that any trauma is greatly reduced.
Because of this superior accuracy, there is less chance for post-surgical bleeding. In the majority of cases, uncomplicated procedures can be carried out on an out-patient basis. Most require only a local anesthesia, and the number of necessary treatments is often reduced. Even minimally invasive surgery has the potential to result in complications, but the chances are lower when using this technology.
Fungal nail infections are extremely common today, and cause social as well as physical discomfort. Past treatments included uncomfortable removal of the nail itself, which did not always destroy the fungi. New, effective drugs are designed to be taken internally, but also have the potential for causing liver damage. Laser treatments are offering new hope for those who suffer from this condition, and often with superior results.
The light not only kills the fungi, but also sterilizes the infected area. Individual treatments are painless, and the most commonly reported sensation is a slight warmth, with no local anesthesia required. In most cases, the total procedure lasts less than an hour. While no treatment can accurately claim 100% success, most of these infections begin to improve after only one session, compared to many weeks using internal medications.
Although currently most used for non- or minimally-invasive treatments, this technology is increasingly being integrated into the treatment of sports-related ligament and tendon problems, as well as agonizing conditions such as hammertoes. Certain kinds of neuropathy and arthritic complications also benefit. Patients report minimal residual scar tissue, better mobility, and generally reduced discomfort and healing time.
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