title: A splint for pincer nail surgery: a convenient splinting device made of an aspiration tube.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To treat pincer nail, both conservative therapy and surgical therapy have been reported. However, there is no consensus about the best method of treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The use of a splint prepared from an aspiration tube after pincer nail surgery is introduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pincer nail was treated by surgery with splinting in seven patients (nine toes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine toes from seven patients were evaluated. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 6 to 37 months (mean 17.7 months). An excellent result was obtained in eight toes, but ingrowth of the nail occurred in one toe. The cosmetic improvement was marked and satisfactory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This splint is cheap and easy to make, can prevent contracture of the nail matrix and nail bed, can reduce pain, and allows direct observation of the nail bed because it is transparent. Thus, this technique seems to be convenient and useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Abeno, Osaka, Japan. ozawa@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabe
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Teruichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Michinari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009264:Nails, Malformed / Q000601:surgery*; D013165:Splints; D014034:Toes; D016896:Treatment Outcome