title: Randomized, prospective study of nail bed ablation for recurrent ingrowing toenails.
abstract: A consecutive series of 31 recurrent ingrowing toenails, which had previously undergone at least two surgical procedures, were recruited to this study over a 1-year period. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. Group A underwent nail bed excision whilst group B had nail bed phenolization in addition to excision. Patients were reviewed 2 weeks and 1 year after operation. Seven toes (41%) in group A developed postoperative infection compared with only one (7%) in group B (P less than 0.01). Recurrent nail spicules occurred in ten patients (59%) in group A and six patients (43%) in group B 1 year after operation. High failure rates for ablation of recurrent ingrowing toenails should encourage greater efforts towards adequate treatment at the first presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery*; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D014034:Toes
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols