Non-Surgical, Permanent 'Prosthetic-Orthotic' Method in Ingrown Toenail Treatment
What is an ingrown toenail and what causes it?
Ingrown toenails are when a toenail grows into the soft tissue of the toe. This most commonly occurs in the big toe.
• Toenails that are incorrectly and deeply cut,
• Narrow and pointed-toe shoes that don't fit well,
• Toenails that are constantly exposed to impact (athletes, flight attendants, and those who work on their feet all day)
• Pregnancy and postpartum periods,
• Obesity (fatness),
• Fungal infections of the nails,
• Ingrown toenails can occur due to factors such as excessively curved nails being hereditary (genetic).
Ingrown toenails cause severe pain, swelling, and redness around the affected area. Sometimes, inflammation of the wound and a reaction of the soft tissue cause the tissue at the edge of the nail to grow over the nail, leading to the formation of a vascularized tissue (granulation tissue).
Ingrown toenails cause severe pain and significantly affect social life and even simple daily activities. Especially in women, they impair the aesthetic appearance of the foot, and patients may have difficulty wearing their preferred shoes and slippers. Often, patients don't take this problem seriously enough and try to treat it themselves, seeking solutions from pedicurists or foot care centers. Sometimes, they believe the problem is solved with temporary solutions such as warm compresses, antibiotics, toenail extraction, or cutting the ingrown part. However, since the underlying cause of the toenail growing into the soft tissue is not addressed, the ingrown toenail recurs after a while. These patients have their toenails extracted repeatedly, but the ingrown toenails continue.
Current treatment methods for ingrown toenails.
• Treatments currently in use;
• Surgical intervention,
• Laser treatment,
• Wire application,
• The use of chemical substances such as phenol,
• These methods consist of burning techniques called "cauterization" using electrical devices. These methods are sometimes quite problematic and have significant side effects, and sometimes they are insufficient, frequently leading to a recurrence of the stinging sensation.
In most patients, ingrown toenails occur again after toenail extraction, and often the nail grows back deformed and irregular. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this condition, and it is not possible to restore the nail to its former healthy structure in such cases.
Plastic Part, ‘Prosthetic-Orthotic’ method
The "plastic part" method was first published in the journal "JEADV" of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases in 2005 as a "prosthetic/orthotic" method, and it was patented by the "Turkish Patent Institute" in 2006.
The "prosthesis/orthosis" method, which is simple to apply and is predicted to be the main treatment for ingrown toenails in the coming years, does not involve any incisions or surgery on the nail. After the area is numbed, the excess soft tissue and granulation tissue in the ingrown part of the nail are examined, and the excess soft tissue is cut and cleaned. Then, a thin plastic tube is placed along the edge of the nail, as shown in the pictures.
This procedure, which takes approximately 5 minutes to perform, is quite practical but does cause bleeding and excessive anxiety for the patient. The plastic tube remains in place for an average of 15 days. During this time, the patient visits the doctor once or twice for a check-up. After the plastic piece is removed and the area is cleaned, the prosthesis is reinserted. Once the treatment period is complete, the plastic piece is easily removed.
With this method, over 2000 patients with ingrown toenails of varying severity, some of whom had undergone repeated toenail extractions and other treatments without success, have been successfully treated. A recurrence rate of only 6% was observed during 1-year follow-ups. (Ingrown Toenail Treatment Immediately After)
Will ingrown toenails recur?
• Whether or not ingrown toenails recur depends entirely on the patient. After treatment;
• Nails should be cut straight across. The corners of the nails should be visible on the outside.
• Appropriate footwear should be used. Pointed-toe or narrow shoes are undesirable. Athletic shoes or shoes with a flat, soft front section should be preferred.
• The foot should be protected from prolonged trauma and impacts (intense sports, fast walking, running, etc.). Otherwise, ingrown toenails may recur.
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