The treatment of ingrowing toenails. A randomised comparison of wedge excision and phenol cauterisation.
We treated 249 patients for ingrowing toenails in a prospective randomised study which compared wedge excision with segmental phenol cauterisation. Follow-up of 97% was at a minimum of 14 months. The analgesic requirement was significantly lower after phenol cauterisation (p less than 0.001), and significantly fewer patients needed to miss school or work (p = 0.001). Recurrence of ingrowth was seen in 16% after wedge excision and 9.6% after phenol cauterisation (not significant), but re-operation was significantly less frequent after phenol (p less than 0.01). Phenol cauterisation gives better short-term and long-term results than wedge resection.
van der Ham
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AC
Department of General Surgery, Sint Clara Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hackeng
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CA
Yo
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TI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
D010636:Phenols