Comparison of Two Methods of Matrisectomy in Treatment of Ingrowing Toenail

Ingrowing of the nail of the hallux has been described to an abnormality of the shape of the nail; in stage III of diseases surgical treatment indicated. This study evaluated two methods of treatment: (a) a surgical matricectomy and (b) chemical matrisectomy.

In this randomized clinical trial study, 260 patients were seen in a special general surgery clinic, were assessed for severity and duration of symptoms. 130 patients were treated with chemical matrisectomy and 130 patients were treated with surgical matricectomy those with no history of immunocompremised diseases and diabetes mellitus and with only minor infection were treated by the surgical matricectomy. The nail was nicked and torn down to expose the infected nail fold. The patients were then taught to clean the area, spray it with povidone-iodine dry powder, and pack the nail fold with a twist of cottonwool. Patient; with recurrent or severe ingrowing toenails were treated by chemical matrisectomy.

The rate of infection in surgical matricectomy in men was less than woman. The recurrence rate in surgical matricectomy was 3.98% and in chemical matrisectomy was %11.8. The operative time was 13.8 and 8.6 minute in chemical matrisectomy. The operative cost was less in chemical matrisectomy.

On the whole surgical matrisectomy is a better procedure than chemical matrisectomy.