Portable Diode Laser Scalpel in Treatment of Ingrown Toenails in Children

Introduction. The ingrown nail (onychocryptosis) is a disease that is common both among children and in adult population. Despite the fact that there is a large number of methods available for the treatment of ingrown nails, a large percentage of recurrence of the disease remains unconquered. Traditional methods of treatment today are often complemented by chemical matrixectomy, cryodestruction, electrocoagulation or laser destruction of the growth zone of the nail plate piece being removed. The purpose of all of these methods of treatment is the reduction of the recurrence of the disease. This study aims to examine the possibilities of using a portable diode laser scalpel for the treatment of ingrown nails in children.

Materials and methods. In this study the authors compared treatment outcomes in patients with ingrown toenails treated with the original Winograd procedure (30 patients) with those treated with the same procedure complemented by the laser destruction of the growth zone (50 patients).

Results and discussion.There was one relapse case in the study group (n=50, 2%), and two — in the control group (n=30, 6.7 %). The healing period of the postoperative wound amounted to 17.3±2.05 days in the study group and to 12.25±1.24 days in control. Pain VAS scores on the first day following the surgery were 6.2±1.24 in the study group, and 5.8±0.816 in control. Staphylococcus aureus was the pathogen responsible for the local infection process in most patients with ingrown nails.

Conclusion. This study demonstrates that using the method proposed results in the reduction of the risk of recurrence of the disease from 6.7% down to 2%, increasing, however, the healing time of the postoperative wound from 12.25±1.24 to 17.3±2.05 days. This makes the use of the method proposed    advisable in patients with:
   a stage III ingrown nail;
   an apparent local infectious process;
   a recurrent ingrown nail.

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