COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF PHENOL AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE MATRICECTOMIES FOR MANAGEMENT OF INGROWN TOENAILS

Management of Ingrown Toenails

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Phenol and Sodium Hydroxide Matricectomies in terms of frequency of pain and wound healing in the management of Ingrown Toenails.

Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial

Place of Duration of Study: Out Patient Department of Surgery Combined Military Hospital Kharian from Aug 2010 to Feb 2011.

Patients and Methods:  A total of 140 cases with Ingrown Toenails were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 70 each. Cases of Group A and B were subjected to Phenol Matricectomy (PMC) and Sodium Hydroxide Matricectomy (SHMC) respectively. Postoperative pain was comparatively and Southampton Wound Grade for wound healing were analyzed at 2^nd and 10^th postop day.

Results: Mean age of Group A was 28.86 ± 6.423 whereas that of Group B was 28.80 ± 5.997. Group A had 58 (83%) males and 12 (17%) females. Group B had 48 (69%) males and 22 (31%) females. Postoperative pain was comparatively less in group A with statistical difference between two groups on 2^nd day (p = 0.014), whereas it was less intense in group B with no statistical significant difference on 10^th day (p=0.662). Wound healing was better in group B with statistical difference between two groups on 2nd (p = 0.022) and 10th day (p = 0.024). Group B (91.4%) had more statistically significant efficacy than Group A (71.4%) (p = 0.004).

Conclusion: SHMC is superior to PMC in reducing pain and improving wound healing for managing Ingrown Toenails.