ABSTRACT

Ingrown toenails is an often painful disorder which usually affects big toenails. Chemical matricectomy is a successful method for the treatment of ingrowing toenails. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and postoperative morbidity of phenol and bichloracetic acid.

69 patients with 112 ingrowing nail sides were treated with either phenol or bichloracetic acid. In the postoperative period, the patients were examinated at 48 hours and afterward weekly until full wound healing was achieved for the severity of postoperative complications. All patients were followed up for the recurrence rate and effectiveness of treatment.

The incidence and severity of postoperative pain was found to be equal between phenol and BCA groups.Postoperative observed in three patients (7,6 %) in the phenol group.Postoperative infection did not occur in BCA group. The incidence of drainage and complete healing duration was significantly higher in the phenol group. The overall success rates in the phenol and BCA groups were found to be 84,6 and 96,7 %, respectively.

Both phenol and BCA are effective agents giving high success rates, but BCA causes less postoperative morbidity and provides recovery.