Comparison of fractional laser-assisted drug delivery and intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide in nail psoriasis

Background and objectives: The treatment of nail psoriasis is often unsatisfactory due to poor penetration of topical therapeutics through the nail plate. The development of innovative methods that provide adequate delivery of the drug into the nail is warranted. In this study, we aim to compare the efficacy of intralesional corticosteroid injection versus its topical application after fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of fingernail psoriasis. Patients and Methods: The study included 36 patients with fingernail psoriasis divided into two groups. The nails in group A were treated with intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide while the nails in group B received fractional CO2 laser therapy followed by topical application of the drug for six sessions. The evaluation was performed using NAPSI and dermatoscopic scores. Results: Both modalities yielded a significant improvement of the nail matrix and bed psoriatic signs. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups by both clinical and dermatoscopic assessment. The laser treatment was associated with significantly lower pain scores (P = 0.03) and higher patient satisfaction (P = 0.007). Conclusions: Fractional CO2 laser-assisted delivery of topical corticosteroids can be a potentially effective and well-tolerated therapeutic modality in the treatment of nail psoriasis with comparable efficacy to intralesional injection.