Effectiveness of ablative partial nail excision with phenolization in advanced stage onychocryptosis [ingrown toe nail]

ABSTRACT

To determine the effectiveness of ablative partial nail excision with phenolization in advanced stage onychocryptosis [ingrown toe nail]. Study type, settings and duration An interventional study carried out at Department of Surgery, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, Teaching Hospital, Sukkur from January 2009 to December 2009. Patients coming to the surgical department with advanced stage [stage-II and III] or recurrence of ingrown toe nail were included in the study. Patients with stage-I disease, diabetics, with trauma and vascular causes were excluded. All patients were operated as day cases with partial nail excision and chemical ablation with phenol. Results: A total of 56 patients underwent the procedure. There were 44[78.5%] males and 12[21.4%] females. Forty six patients were operated for the first time while 8[14.2%] patients were recurrent cases who were operated previously elsewhere. Post operatively and after chemical ablation, 41[73.2%] patients showed improvement with quite good pain relief and reduced swelling on third day, 15[26.7%] patients improved in two weeks. At 2 months 22[39.2%] patients were lost to follow up. Recurrence was observed only in 7[12.5%] patients after four and a half months. Delayed wound healing for upto three weeks was noticed in 3[5.3%] patients while moderate to severe pain requiring strong analgesics for one month was seen in 6[10.7%] patients. Majority of patients n=36 [64.2%] became symptoms free in 10 days. Partial nail excision with phenolization is a simple and effective procedure with low recurrence rates for patients with advanced ingrown toe nail