Total Chemical Matricectomy With 88% Phenol: A Prospective Case Series of 37 Patients

BACKGROUND Definitive nail dystrophies, congenital, traumatic, or acquired, affecting mainly elderly patients, may not be sufficiently managed with a periodic conservative treatment. A definitive surgical treatment may be considered an alternative method, especially in symptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of total matricectomy with 88% phenol solution to treat some nail dystrophies, not otherwise satisfactorily managed. METHODS A series of 48 surgeries were performed on 37 patients. Pain evaluation, interference with shoes and gait, recurrences, and patients' satisfaction with procedure were evaluated. RESULTS All patients mentioned some pain or impairment in wearing shoes before surgery. Cosmetic results were remarkable, and most of the patients (95.11%) had a dramatic improvement of their discomfort after the procedure. No severe complications occurred during the 12-month follow-up. LIMITATIONS Single-center study and the limited number of patients. CONCLUSION Total matricectomy with 88% phenol solution is an effective surgical method with low rates of postoperative morbidity and high success rates for treating symptomatic nail dystrophies. The satisfaction with the cosmetic results is high, and this is a safe procedure for patients with associated comorbidities.