Open treatment with drainage for ingrowing toenail

As a radical treatment of ingrowing toenail, labiomatricectomy is accepted among plastic surgeons. However, postoperative hematoma or infection, or both, is the problem when sutures are placed between the nail and nail fold. We have added a drainage procedure to the standard labiomatricectomy, which can be done on an outpatient basis. Ninety-eight patients were observed during a six month period. Three patients who had had steroid therrapy had suppuration postoperatively, while all of the other patients had an uneventful recovery period. Recurrence was seen in three patients who suffered from onychogryposis, which may require some other method of treatment. Complications were seen in early instances, three inclusion cysts with infection and three nail spikes. Technical error caused these complications, and these have disappeared with the use of this technique.