title: Comparison of phenol and sodium hydroxide chemical matricectomies for the treatment of ingrowing toenails.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemical matricectomy is performed mainly by two agents: phenol and sodium hydroxide. Both agents have excellent cure rates, but there are no data about the comparison of postoperative healing periods. This study was designed to compare the postoperative morbidity rates of sodium hydroxide and phenol matricectomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with 154 ingrowing nail sides were treated with either sodium hydroxide or phenol matricectomy. In the postoperative period, the patients were evaluated for the duration and severity of pain, drainage, and peripheral tissue destruction; complete healing periods; and overall success rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of pain was higher in the sodium hydroxide group on the first visit, on the second day, but all patients became pain-free after that. The incidence and duration of drainage and peripheral tissue destruction was significantly higher in the phenol group. The mean period for complete recovery was 10.8 days in the sodium hydroxide group, whereas it was 18.02 days in the phenol group. The overall success rates in the sodium hydroxide and phenol groups were found to be 95.1 and 95.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both sodium hydroxide and phenol are effective agents giving high success rates, but sodium hydroxide causes less postoperative morbidity and provides faster recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ankara University, Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bostanci
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocyigit
authors.forename: Erbak
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gürgey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002424:Caustics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000628:therapy*; D019800:Phenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D019800:Phenol; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide