Surgical Matricectomy Versus Phenolization in the Treatment of Ingrown Toenails: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND Treatment of ingrown toenail includes various nonsurgical and surgical treatments. However, there is no consensus on the ideal first-choice treatment. OBJECTIVE To compare phenolization versus surgical matricectomy (SM) after lateral nail plate avulsion in terms of efficacy, recurrence rates, postoperative outcomes, and cosmesis. METHODS The authors enrolled 45 consenting patients and randomized them into 2 groups (Group 1 = phenolization and Group 2 = SM) using stratified block randomization and followed them up at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. RESULTS The median percentage improvement in pain visual analog scale (VAS) score was comparable between the 2 groups (p = 0.793). The mean photo VAS showed significant improvement in Group 1 at 1 week (p = 0.00) and 1 month (p = 0.02) but not at 6 months (p = 0.44). The median number of days for pain relief (p = 0.169), for healing (p = 0.192), and for resuming work (p = 0.136) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The time required to regain normal morphology was significantly longer in Group 2 (p = 0.006). None of the patients in either group presented with recurrence at 6 months and 1 year. The authors observed failure of treatment in 1 patient in Group 2. CONCLUSION Both procedures were equally efficacious, had minimal complications, and showed no recurrence at 6 months and 1 year.