COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF CRYOSURGERY AND LASER THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA

The main aim of the present longitudinal comparative clinical study was to clinically evaluate the effectiveness of laser therapy and cryosurgery in the management of OL. A total of 30 subjects were included in the present study and were randomly allocated into two groups i.e., either cryo group wherein subjects were treated with cryotherapy or Laser group in which 810nm diode Laser was used for therapy. Patients were recalled for periodic review and check up at an interval of 1st, 2nd, 3rd week, 2nd and 3rd month respectively. 10cm VAS scale was used for evaluating the postoperative discomfort due to pain and Bates- Jensen Wound Assessment Tool was used to evaluate clinical wound healing. All the parameters were recorded in a specially designed proforma. Later the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Data analysis was done by using ONE WAY ANOVA for intra group variations and POST HOC TUKEY TEST for observing in depth difference between each time interval of same group. For inter group comparisons Paired t test was used. In the present study Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool with 13 components was used for assessment of clinical healing at operated site. To the best of the knowledge as evidenced in the existing scientific literature, the present study is first of its kind where all the parameters of healing were assessed and analysed. When post-operative pain was observed, it reduced by the end of 3rd week in both the groups. Healing was comparatively faster in cryo group than in Laser group. But significant number of recurrences was noticed in subjects of cryo group. In conclusion, though the results suggest that both cryosurgery and Laser therapy were effective in terms of patient comfort, owing to the number of recurrent cases recorded in the cryo group and also mild elevated post-operative edema make cryotherapy a little cumbersome to the patient. On the other hand not much recurrence and post-operative complications were observed in laser group. This suggests that Laser therapy is advantageous over cryosurgery.