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Effectiveness of Plantar Warts Surgery

Plantar warts break out on the soles of the feet. They are not as unsightly as warts on the hands or other more visible areas, but they can be just as annoying. They can cause pain when walking and may even spread. Fortunately, they are easily treated by a variety of methods, including surgical options that can get rid of even the most persistent plantar warts.

  1. Cause

    • Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus can enter the body through skin breaks or cuts on the bottoms of the feet and trigger the growth of plantar warts. Less commonly, the virus can travel and cause warts to appear elsewhere on the body. Although anyone can get plantar warts, people with weak immune systems are especially vulnerable.

    Treatment

    • There are many nonsurgical treatment options for plantar warts, such as the application of medicated pads or cryotherapy (freezing off the warts). A doctor can also coat plantar warts with a special type of liquid that will cause a blister. This allows the warts to be easily clipped away, along with the blistered skin. Sometimes, these treatments do not work for stubborn plantar warts. If they are not effective, there are several surgical alternatives.

    Surgical Cutting

    • When plantar warts do not respond to less invasive treatment, the Mayo Clinic says that a doctor may perform surgery to cut away the warts. This surgery is effective because it physically removes the plantar warts, but it can leave a scar on the foot where they were cut away. This type of surgery can be done with a local anesthetic that numbs the area where the cutting will take place.

    Electrodesiccation and Curettage

    • Plantar warts can be removed surgically through the use of an electric needle. This surgical method is know as electrodesiccation and curettage. It is effective on plantar warts that cannot be removed by nonsurgical methods, but it may leave some scarring on the foot. It is performed after administration of a local anesthetic to numb the area where the warts will be removed.

    Laser Surgery

    • Laser surgery to remove plantar warts often takes several sessions to be effective. The Mayo Clinic warns that it can also be painful for the patient and is more expensive than traditional surgical methods. Laser plantar-wart removal is usually reserved for the most challenging cases.

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