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American Family Physician Aug 2019Ingrown toenails account for approximately 20% of foot problems in primary care. The great toe is most often affected. Ingrown toenails occur most commonly in young men,... (Review)
Review
Ingrown toenails account for approximately 20% of foot problems in primary care. The great toe is most often affected. Ingrown toenails occur most commonly in young men, and nail care habits and footwear are most often contributory factors. No consensus has been reached for the best treatment approach, but ingrown nails may be nonsurgically or surgically treated. Nonsurgical treatments are typically used for mild to moderate ingrown nails, whereas surgical approaches are used in moderate and severe cases. Simple nonsurgical palliative measures include correcting inappropriate footwear, managing hyperhidrosis and onychomycosis, soaking the affected toe followed by applying a mid- to high-potency topical steroid, and placing wisps of cotton or dental floss under the ingrown lateral nail edge. Application of a gutter splint to the ingrown nail edge to separate it from the lateral fold provides immediate pain relief. A cotton nail cast made from cotton and cyanoacrylate adhesive, taping the lateral nail fold, or orthonyxia may also alleviate mild to moderate ingrown toenail. Surgical approaches seek to remove the interaction between the nail plate and the nail fold to eliminate local trauma and inflammatory reaction. These approaches are superior to nonsurgical ones for preventing recurrence. The most common surgical approach is partial avulsion of the lateral edge of the nail plate. Matrixectomy further prevents recurrence and can be performed through surgical, chemical, or electrosurgical means.
Topics: Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; Conservative Treatment; Humans; Nails; Nails, Ingrown; Self Care; Severity of Illness Index; Shoes; Splints
PubMed: 31361106
DOI: No ID Found -
Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Surgery &... Feb 2020Congenital pathologies of the forefoot encompass two broad entities with vastly different treatments and prognosis: malformations, which occur during the embryonic... (Review)
Review
Congenital pathologies of the forefoot encompass two broad entities with vastly different treatments and prognosis: malformations, which occur during the embryonic period and cause anatomical defects, and deformations, which occur during the fetal period on a foot that is configured normally. These deformities are more easily cured when they occur later during the fetal period. When the anomaly is bilateral, a genetic origin must be considered. There are two main entities under the term "deformity": metatarsus adductus and skewfoot (aka "Z"-foot or serpentine foot). Within malformations are brachydactyly (transverse defects), longitudinal defects, syndactyly, polydactyly, clinodactyly and macrodactyly. Among other forefoot abnormalities are hallux valgus, which rarely presents in congenital form, and for which conservative treatment is sometimes sufficient. Also in this group are sequelae of amniotic band constriction, forefoot anomalies secondary to the treatment of congenital pathologies (talipes equinovarus and congenital vertical talus) and nail-related pathologies (ingrown toe nail and incorrect nail position).
Topics: Child; Foot Deformities, Congenital; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Metatarsal Bones; Radiography
PubMed: 31648997
DOI: 10.1016/j.otsr.2019.03.021 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2012Ingrowing toenails are a common problem in which part of the nail penetrates the skinfold alongside the nail, creating a painful area. Different non-surgical and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Ingrowing toenails are a common problem in which part of the nail penetrates the skinfold alongside the nail, creating a painful area. Different non-surgical and surgical interventions for ingrowing toenails are available, but there is no consensus about a standard first-choice treatment.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effects of non-surgical and surgical interventions in a medical setting for ingrowing toenails, with the aim of relieving symptoms and preventing regrowth of the nail edge or recurrence of the ingrowing toenail.
SEARCH METHODS
We updated our searches of the following databases to January 2010: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. We also updated our searches of CINAHL, WEB of SCIENCE, ongoing trials databases, and reference lists of articles.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials of non-surgical and surgical interventions for ingrowing toenails, which are also known by the terms 'unguis incarnatus' and 'onychocryptosis', and those comparing postoperative treatment options. Studies must have had a follow-up period of at least one month.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently selected studies, assessed methodological quality, and extracted data from selected studies. We analysed outcomes as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
MAIN RESULTS
This is an update of the Cochrane review 'Surgical treatments for ingrowing toenails'. In this update we included 24 studies, with a total of 2826 participants (of which 7 were also included in the previous review). Five studies were on non-surgical interventions, and 19 were on surgical interventions.The risk of bias of each included study was assessed; this is a measure of the methodological quality of several characteristics in these studies. It was found to be unclear for several items, due to incomplete reporting. Participants were not blinded to the treatment they received because of the nature of the interventions, e.g. surgery or wearing a brace on the toe. Outcome assessors were reported to be blinded in only 9 of the 24 studies.None of the included studies addressed our primary outcomes of 'relief of symptoms' or 'regrowth', but 16 did address 'recurrence'. Not all of the included studies addressed all of our secondary outcomes (healing time, postoperative complications - infection and haemorrhage, pain of operation/postoperative pain, participant satisfaction), and two studies did not address any of the secondary outcomes.Surgical interventions were better at preventing recurrence than non-surgical interventions with gutter treatment (or gutter removal), and they were probably better than non-surgical treatments with orthonyxia (brace treatment).In 4 of the 12 studies in which a surgical intervention with chemical ablation (e.g. phenol) was compared with a surgical intervention without chemical ablation, a significant reduction of recurrence was found. The surgical interventions on both sides in these comparisons were not equal, so it is not clear if the reduction was caused by the addition of the chemical ablation.In only one study, a comparison was made of a surgical intervention known as partial nail avulsion with matrix excision compared to the same surgical intervention with phenol. In this study of 117 participants, the surgical intervention with phenol was significantly more effective in preventing recurrence than the surgical intervention alone (14% compared to 41% respectively, RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.69).None of the postoperative interventions described, such as the use of antibiotics or manuka honey; povidone-iodine with paraffin; hydrogel with paraffin; or paraffin gauze, showed any significant difference when looking at infection rates, pain, or healing time.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Surgical interventions are more effective than non-surgical interventions in preventing the recurrence of an ingrowing toenail.In the studies comparing a surgical intervention to a surgical intervention with the application of phenol, the addition of phenol is probably more effective in preventing recurrence and regrowth of the ingrowing toenail. Because there is only one study in which the surgical interventions in both study arms were equal, more studies have to be done to confirm these outcomes.Postoperative interventions do not decrease the risk of postoperative infection, postoperative pain, or healing time.
Topics: Combined Modality Therapy; Humans; Nails, Ingrown; Phenol; Postoperative Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Secondary Prevention; Toes
PubMed: 22513901
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001541.pub3 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2018Retronychia is a recently described disorder caused by ingrowth of the proximal nail plate into the proximal nail fold. It is suspected when there is persistent... (Review)
Review
Retronychia is a recently described disorder caused by ingrowth of the proximal nail plate into the proximal nail fold. It is suspected when there is persistent paronychia, particularly in the setting of trauma. This disease is probably underdiagnosed due to limited knowledge among dermatologists and the presence of incomplete clinical forms. Nail plate avulsion is the diagnostic and curative procedure of choice, despite reports of relapse.
Topics: Humans; Nail Diseases; Nails, Ingrown; Onycholysis; Paronychia
PubMed: 30156621
DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187908 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology,... 2012Onychocryptosis or ingrown toenail is a very common pathology of the toenail unit, chiefly affecting adolescents and young adults. The ingrown toenail is responsible for... (Review)
Review
Onychocryptosis or ingrown toenail is a very common pathology of the toenail unit, chiefly affecting adolescents and young adults. The ingrown toenail is responsible for disabling complaints like pain and difficulty in walking. It is associated with significant morbidity, hampering the quality of life as it interferes with sporting activities, school, or work. It principally occurs in the hallux. It is ascribed to poor trimming of the nails in combination with local pressure due to ill-fitting footwear, hyperhidrosis, poor foot hygiene and nail abnormalities. Pain, swelling and discharge are the main clinical features. Four stages of the condition have been described. Diagnosis is usually evident, but it should be differentiated from subungual exostosis and tumors of the nail bed. The current standard of care focuses on conservative treatment like the gutter splint technique in the initial stages, and in cases that are resistant to medical management or recurrent, surgical correction is the treatment of choice. There are various surgical techniques that are described in literature. Although there is no ideal technique, lateral nail plate avulsion with lateral matricectomy by phenol is commonly used and reported to be more effective in reducing recurrences. The aim of this review article is to focus on this common pathology of the nail, the various techniques employed in management and aid in the selection of treatment according to the stage and severity of the disease.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Humans; Morbidity; Nails, Ingrown; Phenol; Secondary Prevention; Splints
PubMed: 22565427
DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.95442 -
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983) Nov 2014Paronychia is an inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail; proximal and/or lateral nail folds. Acute paronychia is mainly due to bacterial infection,... (Review)
Review
Paronychia is an inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail; proximal and/or lateral nail folds. Acute paronychia is mainly due to bacterial infection, Staphyloccus aureus or Streptococcus sometimes viral infection (herpetic whitlow). Chronic paronychia is the result of numerous conditions in which the main factor is the disappearance of the cuticle. On fingers, etiology is often a contact dermatitis; bacterial or mycological infections are secondary colonizations. Onychomycosis due to moulds (Fusarium) or dematiae (Scytalidium dimitiadum) are often associated with paronychia. Paronychia is a frequent side-effect of chemotherapies and targeted therapies. Paronychia is a common complication of lateral or proximal (retronychia) ingrown nail and systemic antibiotics are ineffective unless infection is proved. Do not use systematically systemic antibiotics.
Topics: Acute Disease; Chronic Disease; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Inflammation; Nails, Ingrown; Neoplasms; Paraneoplastic Syndromes; Paronychia; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 25441843
DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2014.06.009 -
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic... 2022Retronychia is an uncommon type of ingrown nail characterized by ingrowing of the proximal nail plate into the proximal nail fold (PNF), inciting cycles of inflammation....
Retronychia is an uncommon type of ingrown nail characterized by ingrowing of the proximal nail plate into the proximal nail fold (PNF), inciting cycles of inflammation. The condition can be symptomatic due to swelling and inflammation of the PNF, but most often it is noticed because of a proximal thickening of the nail plate and the failure of nail to grow distally. It usually affects the great toenails of young females, commonly due to recurrent trauma and footwear-related issues. This condition is difficult to recognize in the initial stages and often requires surgical management when the nail plate becomes significantly impacted. We present a case of retronychia in a 24-year-old lady, who was treated surgically. The report serves to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in such cases.
PubMed: 36561419
DOI: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_248_20 -
Skin Appendage Disorders Jul 2022Retronychia is a particular form of post-traumatic ingrown nail associated with repeated microtrauma of the underside of the proximal nail fold. It is caused by the nail...
INTRODUCTION
Retronychia is a particular form of post-traumatic ingrown nail associated with repeated microtrauma of the underside of the proximal nail fold. It is caused by the nail embedding backward into the underside of the proximal nail fold, forming multiple generations of nail plate.
METHODS
The study aims to evaluate the results of a novel nonsurgical treatment of retronychia. A review was performed on 20 patients who underwent the treatment, 16 having suffered from a chronic form of the condition, with the remaining 4 being afflicted with retronychia for less than a year prior to treatment.
RESULTS
The treatment was a combination of eliminating the proximal sharp edge of the uppermost nail layer and thinning of the nail with fraises and drills of various sizes. This therapy was repeated every 7-14 days. The patients came for checkup every 6 weeks. Treatment duration varied from 2 to 14 months. The rate, at which the appearance of a healthy nail occurred depended on the length of the intact nail layer below the part of the nail affected by retronychia, the age of the patient, and cofactors such as obesity, diabetes, etc. The treatment result in our case study was completely healthy nail growth without relapse of retronychia in all the 20 patients for a follow-up period of 18 months.
CONCLUSION
By combining a healthy nail growth and the simultaneous protection of the nail, we were able to achieve a normal nail in all cases. In order to maintain the achieved results, we recommended our patients to continue wearing protective tubes whenever they would wear closed shoes because recurrence of retronychia may occur even after minimal trauma.
PubMed: 35983471
DOI: 10.1159/000521496