Novel treatment using thioglycolic acid for pincer nails

The authors developed a novel treatment using thioglycolic acid (TGA) to chemically soften pincer nails. The objective was to describe a new treatment method for pincer nails by applying TGA to soften the nail and then fix it in the correct position. A total of 104 patients (nine men and 95 women; mean age, 56 years) with 106 pincer nails underwent our treatment. A small hole was made on the markedly incurvated side of the pincer nail, and a super‐elastic wire was inserted into the hole and bent backwards; 5% TGA was then applied for 6–7 h prior to reduction. Favorable reduction was achieved in 66% of patients within 1 day of the procedure, in 30% within 2–4 days and in 4% 5 days or more later. No patient required surgery. No post‐procedure infection, rash, continuous pain or nail cut out was evident. In eight cases, recurrences of nail deformity were observed within the 1‐year follow‐up period. Our novel method, which consists of administrating TGA via a hole in the nail plate, is a useful treatment for pincer nails.     

Ingrown Nails: A Comparison of the Nail Matrix Phenolization Method with the Elevation of the Nail Bed-Periosteal Flap Procedure

Seventy-five procedures were performed on 62 patients with ingrown nails from 1992 to 1996. Those consisted of 51 nail matrix phenolization methods (NMP) and 24 elevation of the nail bed-periosteal flap procedures (ENF). Ingrown nails were classified into type A (normal nail plate) and type B (incurved nail plate). The duration and intensity of postoperative pain were assessed, and the recurrence rate was monitered. The recurrence rate was 3.9% in the NMP group and 4.1% in the ENF group. Concerning the recurrence rate, there was no statistical significance between ENF and NMP in both types. Postoperative pain intensity was less in the NMP group than in the ENF group in both types (P<0.01). The same tendency was seen in postoperative pain duration. However, the NMP group had longer duration of wound healing compared with the ENF group in type A (P<0.01). We conclude that NMP is a recommendable treatment for most ingrown nails.     

A simple and practical method in treatment of ingrown nails: splinting by flexible tube

BACKGROUND: The ingrown nail (or onychocryptosis) is a common problem that occurs mostly in the big toe and causes high amounts of morbidity in affected patients. Many therapeutic methods have been described, most of them leading to severe damage to the nail or to frequent relapses. The nail splinting technique is a successful, simple and non-invasive therapeutic method for treating ingrown nails. OBJECTIVE: To determine efficacy of the plastic tube insertion technique in patients with ingrown toenail and its use as a standard treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We encountered 32 cases (age range 9-67 years) of ingrown toenails in this clinical trial. All of the patients were treated using the plastic nail tube insertion technique for 7 to 15 days. Patients were examined daily for the first 3 days of treatment and were evaluated 3 and 6 months after treatment. All patients were followed up by a single observer. RESULTS: Recurrence was seen in only two patients after 6 months of treatment (6.25%). CONCLUSION: The low recurrence rate using the nail splinting technique in the treatment of ingrown toenail, as well as its simple application, shows that this treatment constitutes an effective, non-invasive method. It appears that this technique can substitute other more invasive surgical methods, particularly in the early stages of this disease.     

Treating ingrown toenails by nail splinting with a flexible tube: an Indian experience

Ingrown toenail is a common problem, and currently available treatments are either quite invasive or associated with unacceptably high recurrence rate. Recently a new non-invasive therapy. "Nail splinting", has been introduced. In this procedure, the nail is splinted with a longitudinally incised plastic tube. We conducted the present study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure in fifty patients (68 nail edges in 61 nails) with ingrown toenails at all stages. The pain disappeared almost immediately, and inflammation subsided in about one week in all nail edges. Thirty-nine patients came for regular follow-up for six months after removal of the tube. Eight (20.5%) of these patients showed recurrence of the problem. No serious side effects were noted.     

A Clinical Study of 35 Cases of Pincer Nails

Background

Pincer nail is a nail deformity characterized by transverse overcurvature of the nail plate. Pincer nail can affect a patient''s quality of life due to its chronic, recurrent course; however, there have been no clinical studies on the pincer nail condition in Korean patients.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical findings and treatment of pincer nail. In addition, possible etiological factors were considered, and treatment efficacy was evaluated.

Methods

The medical records and clinical photographs of 35 patients (12 males, 23 females) who were diagnosed with pincer nail between August 1, 2005 and July 31, 2009 were studied.

Results

Patient age ranged from 10 to 77 (52.09±17.26) years, and there was a predominance of female (23 out of 35 patients, F:M=2:1). The mean duration of the disorder was 7.45 years (range 0.25~40); 85% had pincer nail for at least 1 year. In addition, 40% had a history of previous treatment and recurrence. There were 82.8% patients with the common type of pincer nails. The most commonly involved nails were both great toenails. Among 35 patients, nail grinding was started in 30 patients, and 25 patients showed clinical improvement with nail grinding. The width index increased and the height index decreased after treatment. The mean follow up period was 8.42 months (range 1~27), and 7 patients showed recurrence after 8.8 months (range 2~20). Among 35 patients, 5 patients were treated with nail extraction with matricectomy, and the symptoms resolved immediately. The mean follow up period was 7.6 months (range 0~19), and recurrence was not observed. Onychomycosis was also present in 37.1% of patients, and itraconazole pulse therapy for 3 months was added.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate the clinical features of pincer nail in Korean patients. The findings show that the common type of pincer nail was most common, and nail grinding as a conservative treatment greatly improved pincer nails despite a risk of recurrence. When onychomycosis was also present, oral antifungal therapy added to nail grinding resulted in a more rapid change in nail thickness and clinical improvement.     

甲沟重建联合甲内卷矫正术治疗重度嵌甲型甲沟炎48例

目的:评价甲沟重建联合甲内卷矫正术治疗嵌甲型甲沟炎的临床疗效。方法:选择2019年12月至2021年10月在我科就诊的重度嵌甲型甲沟炎患者48例，均采用甲沟重建联合甲内卷矫正术治疗。手术要点：(1)楔形切除增生的肉芽组织缩小甲襞，通过新的缝合方法使甲襞侧组织与甲床同一水平，构建正常甲沟；(2)橡胶片固定在甲缘下以钝化甲边缘；(3)用橡皮筋牵拉甲缘下橡胶片以抬高甲侧缘以纠正甲内卷畸形。结果:48例患者(81个拇趾)全部治愈，甲形态正常且美观，随访6个月无复发。结论:甲沟重建联合甲内卷矫正术疗效好。     

Ingrown toenails: an evaluation of elevating the nail bed-periosteal flap.

Many procedures to correct ingrown toenails are available; however, they cannot avoid recurrence and nail deformities. We have performed a procedure which corrects ingrown toenail without reducing the width of the nail plate by elevating the nail bed-periosteal flap. Sixty patients were observed for longer than six months and exhibited excellent results. Only two cases of incurvated nails (2) required re-operation.     

拔甲联合甲旁真皮-脂肪瓣填塞术治疗7例双侧重度卷曲型嵌甲

【摘要】 目的 探讨拔甲联合甲旁真皮-脂肪瓣填塞术治疗双侧重度卷曲型嵌甲的临床效果。方法 回顾性分析2018年1月至2020年1月就诊的7例双侧重度卷曲型嵌甲患者的临床资料,男3例,女4例,年龄25 ~ 49岁,平均35岁。采用拔甲联合甲旁真皮-脂肪瓣填塞术进行门诊手术治疗。结果 7例患者术后切口均为一期愈合,无感染。术后1~ 2周疼痛全部缓解。随访12 ~ 24个月,新生甲板均长出,无卷曲畸形,甲沟无红肿,无甲沟炎复发,患者均对疗效满意。结论 拔甲联合甲旁真皮-脂肪瓣填塞术治疗双侧重度卷曲型嵌甲临床效果良好。     

Significance of Surgery to Correct Anatomical Alterations in Pincer Nails

BackgroundPincer nail deformity and its causes can pose a therapeutic challenge. Ill-fitting shoes and subungual exostosis of the toes may be attributed to pincer nail formation. However, in some cases, the causes of pincer nail deformity could not be determined. The role of mechanobiology in nail configuration and deformities has rarely been considered.ObjectiveThe present study investigated the effectiveness of surgical procedures to correct pincer nail deformity, in terms of anatomical changes measured by radiographs.MethodsTwo surgical procedures, nail bed widening with matrixectomy or a dermal graft, were used on 30 nails in 20 patients with pincer deformity. Changes in the width, height, and curvature indices were assessed. Radiographs were obtained to evaluate the presence of osteophytes and measure the interphalangeal angle in terms of mechanobiology in nail configuration.ResultsPreoperative and postoperative assessment results revealed marked improvement objectively and subjectively. The mean width index was greater after surgery than that before surgery (84.4% vs. 64.8%). Both mean height and curvature indices were smaller after surgery than before preoperative (23.0% vs. 76.7% and 1.3% vs. 2.2%, respectively).ConclusionNail bed widening with matrixectomy, which corrects anatomical alterations in pincer nails, is suggested to be suitable for patients with pincer nail deformity.     

Nail abrasion: a new treatment for ingrown toe-nails

A simple new method for the treatment of ingrown toe-nails was devised and applied to 33 toe-nails in 22 patients. The entire nail surface, except for the margin, was abraded until the nail became flexible with a Schreu's skin grinder equipped with a steel bar. When there was infection or granulation of the nail wall, the imbedded nail corner was trimmed before abrasion. The patients underwent additional treatments when one treatment was not enough to achieve cure or when discomfort appeared, which was the first symptom of recurrence. The average number and duration of treatments was 2.9 times and 16 months, respectively. Relief from pain occurred in all patients soon after abrasion was performed. Recurrence of infection and granulation was observed in only one patient. Five patients (23%) remained problem-free for more than one year without any additional treatment, because their incurved nail was gradually improved in shape by repetition of this procedure. This therapy was particularly effective in patients with severely incurved nails.     

Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Pediatric Trachyonychia

Pediatric trachyonychia is an acquired nail disease that can cause distress to families. It is a poorly understood disease, and long‐term follow‐up data are lacking. We present an institutional review of 11 children with isolated pediatric trachyonychia followed over time. Children with the diagnosis of pediatric trachyonychia were identified and invited to participate. Pictures were taken on follow‐up and a questionnaire was answered. Exclusion criteria include having another diagnosis at the initial visit that causes nail dystrophy. Eleven patients with the diagnosis of pediatric trachyonychia were available for follow‐up. The mean age of appearance was 2.7 years (range 2–7 yrs) and the average follow‐up was 66 months (range 10–126 mos). Nine patients were treated with potent topical corticosteroids, one used only petrolatum, and one took vitamin supplements. One patient was found to have an additional skin and hair diagnosis of alopecia areata on follow‐up. On follow‐up, 82% noted improvement of the nails, whereas 18% noted no change. A majority of cases of pediatric trachyonychia are isolated and improve with time, regardless of treatment.     

Ingrown and pincer nails: evaluation and treatment

Ingrown toenails are mainly a condition of children and young adults, whereas ingrown fingernail and pincer nails are seen in adults. Their etiology is multifactorial. Different types of ingrowing nails require different treatments. Neonatal ones are always treated conservatively. The hypertrophic lateral nail wall seldom requires surgery. Congenital misalignment of the big toenail may resolve spontaneously, but delay in treatment may cause permanent nail dystrophy. The juvenile type is most common and is treated conservatively in its early stages. Selective matrix horn phenolization or excision is the treatment of choice for later stages. Pincer nails are due to widening of the base of the distal phalanx. Treatment is aimed at reducing the outward pressure of the lateral osteophytes on the matrix horns and permanently flattening the nail. A variety of different methods are discussed.     

钢丝支具在嵌甲型甲沟炎术后的应用

 目的:观察钢丝支具在重度嵌甲型甲沟炎术后复发治疗中的效果。方法:对32例接受手术治疗的重度嵌甲患者术后出现复发时应用钢丝支具治疗,治疗结束后采用医师总体评估 (PGA) 评分评价疗效,随访5~11个月观察复发率。 结果:32例患者中,有31例达到优秀。结论:钢丝支具绷甲对嵌甲术后复发患者疗效较好。     

Congenital malalignment of the great toenails in dizygotic twins

Congenital malalignment of the great toenails is a nail disorder caused by the malalignment of the nail matrix, which results in lateral growth of the nail plate. It may cause onychogryphosis and, in infants and children, ingrown nails. We report an occurrence of this deformity in dizygotic twins.     

Modified Emmet's operation for ingrown nails using the Er:YAG laser

BACKGROUND: Ingrowing nails are a common problem. Standard procedure is surgery according to Emmet (a gycecologist) or Emmert (a surgeon) where postoperative pain, swelling and bleeding are major side effects and traumatic damage of the nail organ is not completely avoidable. Laser surgery may provide an alternative with less tissue damage.

METHODS: We compared 138 patients with 212 affected great toe nails (98 males, 40 females) were bloodless Emmet's operation was performed with digital nerve block with 11 patients (12 affected nails) using an Er:YAG laser for atraumatic nail plate removal. Pain was registered by a semiquantitative pain scale (ranging from “zero?–?no pain” to “10?–?maximum pain“). Swelling was scored from “0?–?absent” to “3?–?severe”. Side effects like bleeding, infection or relapse were registered.

RESULTS: Emmet's nail operation: Pain was scored 7.8±3.2 on the operation day (evening), 5.3±3.1 (day 1) and 3.8±4.0 (day 3). Swelling was scored 2.7±1.8 (operation day, evening), 2.1±1.9 (day 1) and 1.3±2.1 (day 3). Wound healing lasted 16.8±3.3 days. The infection rate was 2.4%, i.e. 5 of 212 nails. The relapse rate after 6 months was 12 of 212 nails (5.7%). Spicules were observed in 9 of 212 nails (4.2%). Laser procedure: Pain was scored 8.0±1.9 (operation day, evening), 4.1±1.5 (day 1) and 0.7±2.3 (day 3). The swelling was scored 2.4±1.8 (operation day, evening), 1.5±0.9 (day 1) and 0.9±1.3 (day 3). Wound healing was complete after 12.9±3.5 days. Infections and relapse were not observed. In one case spicules occurred after 5 months. No other side effects were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: The modified Emmet's operation for ingrown nails using the Er:YAG laser provides a safe method with increased efficacy that causes less pain and swelling, a faster healing and less complications.     

Effects of non‐amputative wide local excision on the local control and prognosis of in situ and invasive subungual melanoma

Subungual melanomas (SUM) are rare, and amputation is often required. Non‐amputative wide local excision (WLE) of the nail unit with the periosteum of the distal phalanx, followed by skin graft, has been accepted for in situ or SUM of 0.5 mm or less thickness. However, previous reports have included a limited number of cases, and not all more than 0.5‐mm thick SUM exhibit invasion or attachment to the distal phalanx. The aim of the present study was to investigate the local recurrence and prognosis for in situ, minimally invasive and invasive SUM that were treated using WLE. We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients with in situ (n = 48) or minimally invasive SUM (n = 2) (in situ or minimally invasive group) and 12 patients with more than 0.5‐mm thick invasive SUM (invasive group) who were treated using WLE. All patients survived the follow‐up period (24–207 months), although four patients with in situ SUM experienced local recurrence at the lateral margin and re‐excision was required. In the invasive group, no patients experienced local recurrence, although one patient (8.3%) developed nodal metastasis at 86 months and regional lymph node dissection was required. WLE may provide acceptable local control for in situ and intermediate thickness SUM, without compromising the vital prognosis. However, a larger randomized prospective study with long‐term follow up is required to evaluate adequately the risks associated with a non‐amputative WLE for in situ and invasive SUM.     

部分甲基质切除甲沟重建治疗嵌甲

目的研究1种利用甲侧襞皮瓣改变甲体与甲沟的位置结构,从而彻底治愈嵌甲的手术方法。方法切除部分甲体、甲床,并利用甲侧襞皮瓣重建甲床、甲沟、甲侧襞联合结构。结果2000年1月～2003年5月对158 例嵌甲患者,足趾209、手指3,共276侧嵌甲进行甲沟重建手术。随访6月～2年,效果满意。结论该手术从根本上治愈嵌甲,且并发症少,复发率极低。     

Treatment of ingrown nail: comparison of recurrence rates between the nail matrix phenolization classical technique and phenolization associated with nail matrix curettage - is the association necessary?

Some services in Brazil combine curettage of the nail matrix with phenolization in the treatment of ingrown nails, with the objective of further increasing efficacy. The objective of this research was to compare the cure rates between the phenolization technique and phenolization associated with nail matrix curettage. A retrospective study was done which included 271 cases. There was only a 5% recurrence rate for the phenolization procedure, compared with 7.7% for combined phenolization/nail matrix curettage. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques, which indicated that there is no need for curettage of the nail matrix. Phenolization worked even for level III disease.     

Using 80% trichloroacetic acid in the treatment of ingrown toenails

BACKGROUND

Ingrown nails are a very common problem. There are different stages of disease and diverse therapeutic options. Phenol and sodium hydroxide are commonly used agents for chemical matricectomy but both frequently entail excessive healing times.

OBJECTIVE

This prospective study aimed mainly to evaluate the efficacy of partial nail avulsion and selective chemical cauterization of the matrix using 80% TCA in the treatment of the ingrowing nail.

METHODS

One-hundred-and-thirty-three patients with 197 ingrown toenails were included in this study. Preoperatively, we tried to find predisposing factors to the disease. In the postoperative period, patients were evaluated for potential complications at days 3, 30, 180, 270 and 360. Pain was measured before surgery, as well as 24 hours and 72 hours after surgery.

RESULTS

There were only 3 cases (out of 197) of ingrown nail recurrence. Preoperatively, we found the presence of drainage in 82% of patients, which, following the first visit after surgery, was reduced to 19%. Persistent granulation tissue was found in 3% of the patients (versus 75% prior to surgery). The most frequent predisposing factors for the ingrown nail were excessive trimming of the lateral nail plate (63%), plantar hyperhidrosis (58%) and heavy nail folds (39%). Pain was substantially reduced after surgery.

CONCLUSION

It is assumed that chemical procedures for the ingrown toenail are associated with delayed healing times but our results demonstrated quick recovery. Using 80% TCA for selective matricectomy in the ingrown toenail is an effective, quick and easy method.     

A systematic review of non‐surgical treatments for lentigo maligna

Lentigo maligna (LM) is the most common melanocytic malignancy of the head and neck. If left untreated, LM can progress to lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). Complete surgical excision is the gold standard for treatment, however, due to the location, size, and advanced age of patients, surgery is not always acceptable. As a result, there is ongoing interest in alternative, less invasive treatment modalities. The objective was to provide a structured review of key literature reporting the use of radiotherapy, imiquimod and laser therapy for the management of LM in patients where surgical resection is prohibited. An independent review was conducted following a comprehensive search of the National Library of Medicine using MEDLINE and PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library databases. Data were presented in tabular format, and crude data pooled to calculate mean recurrence rates for each therapy. 29 studies met the inclusion criteria: radiotherapy 10; topical imiquimod 10; laser therapies 9. Radiotherapy demostrated recurrence rates of up to 31% (mean 11.5%), with follow‐up durations of 1–96 months. Topical imiquimod recurrence rates were up to 50% (mean 24.5%), with follow‐up durations of 2–49 months. Laser therapy yielded recurrence rates of up to 100% (mean 34.4%), and follow‐up durations of 8–78 months. in each of the treatment series the I² value measuring statistical heterogeneity exceeded the accepted threshold of 50% and as such a meta‐analysis of included data were inappropriate. For non‐surgical patients with LM, radiotherapy and topical imiquimod were efficacious treatments. Radiotherapy produced superior complete response rates and fewer recurrences than imiquimod although both are promising non‐invasive modalities. There was no consistent body of evidence regarding laser therapy although response rates of up to 100% were reported in low quality studies. A prospective comparative trial is indicated and would provide accurate data on the long‐term efficacy and overall utility of these treatments.