Abstract

Motivation/Background: Partial nail plate avulsion and chemical matricectomy is the most successful method for the treatment of ingrown toenails. Phenol, sodium hydroxide and trichloroacetic acid(TCA) were used for chemical matricectomy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of formic acid matricectomy in the treatment of ingrown toenails.

Method: Twenty-five patients with 44 ingrowing nail sides were treated with formic acid.Formic acid atricectomy with 85% formic acid after partial nail avulsion was performed. Patients were evaluated at 48 hours and afterward weekly until full wound healing was achieved for the severity of postoperative complication.All patients were followed up for the recurrence rate and effectiveness of treatment.

Results: No recurrence was observed 25 patients during mean follow-up period.While 8 of the patients had mild pain, 4 moderate pain and 2 severe pain;11 patients experienced no pain. Postoperative infection was occured 3 patients (12%). Postoperative drainage improved within 15 days in 21 patients (84%), within one month in 2 patient (8%). Postoperative drainage improved more than one month in 2 patient (8%).

Conclusion: Due to formic acid matricectomy has severe postoperative infection and delaying postoperative healing time,other matricectomy modalities should be referred.