Trichloroacetic acid matricectomy in the treatment of ingrowing toenails.

BACKGROUND

Ingrowing toenails can be treated with conservative therapy or surgery, but frequent relapse can be a problem in conservative therapy and surgical therapy without matricectomy. Thus, permanent nail ablation by partial matricectomy is now accepted as the treatment of choice.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) matricectomy in the treatment of ingrowing nail.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty ingrowing toenail edges in 25 patients were enrolled. TCA matricectomy with 100% trichloroacetic acid after partial nail avulsion was performed. For a few weeks after surgery, postoperative complications such as pain, discharge, and infection were assessed. After a mean follow-up period of 22.9 months, recurrence rate and cosmetic outcomes were investigated to evaluate the effects of the surgery.

RESULTS

The wounds almost always healed within 2 weeks without prolonged exudative discharge. Pain was mild and transient. A case of secondary infection occurred. Recurrence was found in only two nails of one patient, and the success rate was 95%, with good cosmetic results.

CONCLUSION

TCA matricectomy showed a low recurrence rate with minimal side effects and was easy to perform in outpatient clinic. Therefore, it may be a good alternative treatment of ingrowing toenails.