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Exploring postoperative outcomes for ingrown toenails. NaOH vs wedge resection techniques
Jorge Pérez-Rey1, Lazaro Mediavilla-Saldaña, Alfonso Martínez-Nova
1Instituto Podológico de Jaca, Jaca, Spain.
Summary
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) matricectomy for ingrown toenails showed lower recurrence and infection rates compared to wedge resection. This chemical treatment offers a slight advantage in postoperative recovery, supporting early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Podiatry
- Dermatology
- Surgical Procedures
Background:
- Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) cause significant health and work-related issues.
- Lack of clear treatment consensus for ingrown toenails hinders effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare postoperative recovery after chemical (sodium hydroxide) and mechanical (wedge resection) matricectomy for ingrown toenails.
- Provide data to inform treatment guidelines for onychocryptosis.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 161 matricectomy procedures: 94 with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and 67 with wedge resection.
- Monitored postoperative recovery by recording recurrence, infection, discharge time, and visit frequency.
Main Results:
- NaOH matricectomy resulted in significantly lower recurrence (p=.048) and infection rates (p=.03) compared to wedge resection.
- Patients undergoing NaOH treatment experienced shorter discharge times (p=.02) but required more postoperative visits (p=.003).
Conclusions:
- Both NaOH and wedge resection offer low recurrence and infection rates with short recovery times for ingrown toenails.
- Sodium hydroxide matricectomy demonstrated a slight advantage, supporting its use in early-stage treatment to prevent complications like granulation tissue growth.
