ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy using two rounds of 10-second freeze-thaw cycles versus four rounds of 5-second freeze-thaw cycles in the treatment of plantar viral warts.
Methods: A prospective two-group randomized trial was conducted. Subjects in Group A received the regular two rounds of 10-second sustained freeze. Subjects in Group B received four rounds of 5-second sustained freeze. After each treatment, the pain score, pain duration, and occurrence of blistering were recorded. Wart size was measured on the 4th, 8th, and 12th sessions.
Results: Seventy-eight subjects (Group A = 36, Group B = 42) participated in the study. There was no difference in clinical clearance rates, blistering rates, posttreatment pain score, and duration of posttreatment pain between both groups.
Conclusions: There was no difference in efficacy between two rounds of 10-second freeze-thaw cycles and four rounds of 5-second freeze-thaw cycles in cryotherapy for plantar viral warts in our study cohort. Patients who are unable to tolerate long liquid nitrogen spray cycles may be given multiple short cycles instead, without compromise in therapeutic efficacy. There was no difference in pain and blistering for both groups.