NAIL-FOLD EXCISION WITHOUT MATRICECTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF INGROWN TOE NAILS

Abstract

Background: Ingrown toe nails are a painful condition occurs when one of the distal sides of nail plates causes pressure or actually punctures the periungual skin. A wide variety of treatment modalities are existed in the literature. Objectives: Evaluation of the technique of lateral nail-fold excision without matricectomy in treatment of ingrown toenails. Patients and Methods: The study was a prospective observational study carried on 83 patients; 57 males (68.7%) and 26 females (31.3%) with a mean age of 21.3±4.2 (range 13–41) years who presented with ingrown toe nails. All patients underwent lateral nail fold excision technique as a treatment of ingrown toe nails. Results: Recurrence rate was 3.6%, postoperative erythema and swelling was 3.6%, and inflammatory exudate was 4.8%. Significant loss of sensation around the area of surgery was 2.4%, and 94% of patients were strongly satisfied with the procedure. Conclusion: This technique was effective in treatment of ingrown toe nails with a low rate of recurrence, less pain, good cosmetic results, and high satisfaction rates.