• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 2008

Partial toenail ablation on both sides of the great toenail, unfolding the severely curved toenail, and application of a simple device for maintaining the unfolded state of the incurved toenail is described to treat severely incurved toenails (pincer nails). This technique alleviated symptoms and improved the shape of severely curved toenails of the greater toe.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.139-143
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to introduce the 'Matrixplasty' for the treatment of a severely incurved toenail with growth plate deformity and to report our results treating this disease entity. Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and May 2010, 48 consecutive patients (62 cases) underwent treatment of symptomatic incurved toenails with the 'matrixplasty'. The mean period of time at last follow-up was $14.0{\pm}1.3$ months. The recurrence rate and complication rate were evaluated. An American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot hallux score was assigned and patients were evaluated at pretreatment and the last follow-up meeting. For evaluation of improvement in toenail shape, the center to edge angle of the toenail was measured at pretreatment and last follow-up. Results: All ingrown toenails healed and the nail deformity was corrected within 3 weeks after the procedure. Among the 62 cases, four cases had recurred by the last follow-up. The mean pretreatment AOFAS forefoot hallux score was $73.1{\pm}12.8$, and it improved to $98.7{\pm}1.1$ by the last follow-up (p<0.01). The mean center to edge angle of the toenail improved from $53.3{\pm}12.9$ degrees to $18.2{\pm}7.4$ degrees by the last follow-up (p<0.01). Minor paronychia, which was managed with local wound dressing and oral antibiotics, was identified in eight cases. Conclusion: Matrixplasty showed excellent clinical results in the treatment of severe incurved toenail (pincer nail) and this procedure also showed great improvement of the deformed toenail and its growth plate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 2010

Treatments of severely incurved toenails cause anatomical changes and cosmetic problems, even though they provide adequate symptom relief. Incurved toenail patients treated with a K-D$^{(R)}$ (S&C Biotech, Seoul, South Korea) the new device for correcting curved nail deformity were investigated retrospectively. This study surveyed 12 patients(18 cases) who had been treated for severe ingrown toenails using K-D$^{(R)}$ from May 2008 to March 2009, and examined their subjective satisfaction before and after the treatment. The average age of the participants was 39 (ranging from 27 to 52), and 8 of them were male and 4 female. The treatment was applied after the patients were given a thorough explanation about the tool and the treatment, and questionnaire surveys were conducted before the treatment and after 3 months on the average from the treatment. In the survey, the respondents were asked about pain, restriction on activities, and the selection of shoes. For each item, symptoms with a given point were presented, and the respondents' scores were compared between the surveys before and after the treatment. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, pain increased from 14 out of 40 before the treatment to 39 after, activity restriction increased from 11 to 30, and shoe selection increased from 20 to 30. The average total score increased from 45 to 98, and this suggests a considerable enhancement in the patients' subjective satisfaction. The average period of the application of K-D$^{(R)}$ was $20.3{\pm}9.4$ days, and in all the cases, ingrown toenails were corrected within three weeks.