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Conservative treatment of ingrowing toenails
1Department of General Surgery, University Hospital St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The British Journal of Surgery
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Conservative treatment for ingrowing toenails is effective for mild cases (stages I and II), offering a high success rate. However, advanced cases (stage III) show a high failure rate, indicating limitations of this approach.
Area of Science:
- Podiatry
- Dermatology
Background:
- Ingrowing toenails (onychocryptosis) are a common condition causing pain and potential infection.
- Various treatment modalities exist, ranging from conservative measures to surgical interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of a conservative treatment approach for ingrowing toenails.
- To assess the success rates based on the severity (stages I-III) of ingrowing toenails.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 105 patients (119 ingrowing toenails) were treated using a combination of conservative measures.
- Data on treatment duration, patient discomfort, return to normal activities, cosmetic results, and recurrence rates were collected.
- A two-year follow-up period was implemented to assess long-term outcomes.
Main Results:
- The conservative method was simple, inexpensive, but time-consuming.
- High success rates (96%) were observed in less advanced cases (stages I and II).
- Advanced cases (stage III) demonstrated a high failure rate (up to 62%), with a tendency for recurrence in stage II cases over time.
Conclusions:
- Conservative treatment is a viable and successful option for mild ingrowing toenails (stages I and II).
- The treatment's effectiveness diminishes significantly in advanced cases (stage III).
- While generally well-tolerated with good cosmetic outcomes, long-term recurrence should be considered for stage II cases.