Onychocryptosis: a long-term retrospective and comparative follow-up study of surgical and phenol chemical matricectomy in 520 procedures.

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.

OBJECTIVES

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.