Comparison of partial matrixectomy and combination treatment (partial matrixectomy + phenol) in ingrown toenail.

UNLABELLED To compare only partial matrixectomy and combination techniques (partial matrixectomy + phenol application) in the treatment of patients with an ingrown toenail in terms of recurrence, residual pain level and time of return to daily activities. METHODS The study included 118 patients with moderately ingrown toenails who were unresponsive to conservative treatment together with severely ingrown toenail patients. Of these patients, 76 cases were treated with a partial matrixectomy technique and 42 patients received combination treatment. Patients having nail infection received preoperative oral antibiotics. RESULTS Of 118 patients, 87 were males and 31 were females. The disease relapsed in seven (9.2%) of the patients treated with the partial matrixectomy technique, and in two (4.8%) patients from the combination treatment group (p=0.5). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of return time to daily activities (p=0.5) nor in terms of residual pain (p=0.7). CONCLUSIONS Treatment costs and operation times of patients who underwent phenol application in addition to partial matrixectomy were found to be higher compared to only partial matrixectomy, however combined therapy was not found to be superior to only partial matrixectomy in terms of recurrence, post-op pain and return to daily activities.