Carbon dioxide laser excision of benign pedal lesions.

The CO2 laser is a very important tool to remove benign pedal lesions. It certainly is not the only method, but once the technique is developed by the surgeon, it becomes easier to remove these lesions and, consequently, the results become better. In dealing with the mucoid cysts, the laser surgery is second to none and even if it has to be repeated there is basically no disability for the patient. This is also true with fibromas because many types of fibromas would require suturing that would create an inconvenience for the patient. With the use of the laser, sutures are not required and the patients recover much faster. In dealing with plantar fibromatosis, ganglionic cysts, and lipomas, the convalescence is probably about the same with CO2 laser as with conventional removal, especially when deep resection is necessary and suturing of the skin is required. With plantar fibromata surgery, the resultant long-term scarring is much less with the CO2 laser, especially when followed up with the appropriate injectables. CO2 laser surgery performed on the punctata aeriata, interdigital clavus formations, and hypertrophic scars are not always as successful but offer the surgeon another modality in taking care of the patient's problems without the need for extensive surgery.