title: Super U Technique for Ingrown Nails.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ingrown nails are a common problem, seen mostly in young adults. Also known as onychcrypotisis, this condition typically affects the great toenail. Four stages have been defined according to the severity and duration of the condition, and treatment varies from conservative to surgical techniques depending on the stage. We present our experience with this condition, describing the characteristics of our population and surgical treatment, in particular the super U technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, descriptive study of patients with ingrown great toenail treated surgically using the super U technique. We also describe postoperative management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients with a mean age of 35.7 years underwent operation, 9 for unilateral ingrown great toenail and 1 for bilateral disease. Stage II ingrown nail was the most common. Half of the patients had been treated previously using other surgical techniques. The mean time to healing was 6 weeks. The only postoperative complication was infection in 1 patient. Mild to moderate postoperative pain persisted for a week. The majority of patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe the super U technique is very useful in stage II ingrown nail and in disease that has recurred after previous surgery, and is the treatment of choice in stage III or IV disease in which excessive hypertrophic tissue is found.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía Dermatológica de la Cátedra de Dermatología Médico Quirúrgica, Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: julio.correa.s@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía Dermatológica de la Cátedra de Dermatología Médico Quirúrgica, Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magliano
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía Dermatológica de la Cátedra de Dermatología Médico Quirúrgica, Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agorio
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía Dermatológica de la Cátedra de Dermatología Médico Quirúrgica, Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazzano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006214:Hallux / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009263:Nails, Ingrown / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cirugía de uñas; Exéresis en U; Great toe; Hallux; Ingrown nail; Nail surgery; Onicocriptosis; Onychocryptosis; Super U; Súper U; U-shape Exeresis; Uña encarnada