title: Onychoplasty with carbon dioxide laser matrixectomy for treatment of ingrown toenails.
abstract: Ingrown toenails are one of the most common pathologic conditions encountered in podiatric medical practice. Many methods of treatment for ingrown toenails have been used and studied, including chemical matrixectomies, surgical approaches, and CO(2) laser ablation. This study is a retrospective review of a new technique that consists of resection of the involved nail matrix using a No. 15 blade and controlled cauterization using a CO(2) laser. The technique was performed on 381 painful ingrown toenails, and all of the patients were followed up postoperatively for an average of 34 months. The results showed minimal pain, a low recurrence rate, rapid return to activity, and good cosmesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Podiatry, Veterans Affairs Chicago Health Care System, West Side Division, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Farley-Sakevich
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zager
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Axe
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies