title: Novel treatment using thioglycolic acid for pincer nails.
abstract: The authors developed a novel treatment using thioglycolic acid (TGA) to chemically soften pincer nails. The objective was to describe a new treatment method for pincer nails by applying TGA to soften the nail and then fix it in the correct position. A total of 104 patients (nine men and 95 women; mean age, 56 years) with 106 pincer nails underwent our treatment. A small hole was made on the markedly incurvated side of the pincer nail, and a super-elastic wire was inserted into the hole and bent backwards; 5% TGA was then applied for 6-7 h prior to reduction. Favorable reduction was achieved in 66% of patients within 1 day of the procedure, in 30% within 2-4 days and in 4% 5 days or more later. No patient required surgery. No post-procedure infection, rash, continuous pain or nail cut out was evident. In eight cases, recurrences of nail deformity were observed within the 1-year follow-up period. Our novel method, which consists of administrating TGA via a hole in the nail plate, is a useful treatment for pincer nails.
authors.affiliation: Okada Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic, Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kikuzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Eijiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009264:Nails, Malformed / Q000628:therapy*; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013864:Thioglycolates; C017487:2-mercaptoacetate