title: Onychocryptosis: a long-term retrospective and comparative follow-up study of surgical and phenol chemical matricectomy in 520 procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onychocryptosis or ingrown toenail is a common condition for which there are several treatment options. Surgical matricectomy (SM) is the classical procedure, whereas chemical matricectomy with phenol (CMP) is the most widely used nowadays.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the success rate, postoperative comfort, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction provided by each of these procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of all patients who underwent surgery for ingrown toenail over a 5-year period was performed. Data used for the descriptive study and success rates were obtained from medical records. Postoperative data were collected by telephone interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ingrown toenail surgery was carried out in 520 patients. SM was associated with a lower recurrence rate (8.2%) than CMP (17.8%), more pain (5.7/10 vs. 3.6/10), a higher risk for infection (15.3% vs. 2.9%), and lower cosmetic satisfaction (7.3/10 vs. 8.0/10). Overall satisfaction was similar in both procedures (8.5/10 and 8.4/10, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although SM is associated with a lower recurrence rate, CMP appears to facilitate better postoperative outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Betlloch-Mas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Encabo-Durán
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019800:Phenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D019800:Phenol
keywords: nail disorders; nail surgery; surgery