Treatment of ingrown nail with a special device composed of shape‐memory alloy

Abstract

Ingrown nail is a common nail problem resulting in pain and disability in daily life. Recently, a new treatment modality for an ingrown nail was reported that used a device composed of shape-memory alloy, K-D. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy, recurrence rate and complications of K-D. Between June 2010 and September 2012, 24 patients (31 nails) underwent treatment of symptomatic incurved nails with a K-D. Patients were evaluated at pretreatment and during every visit. The mean age of the patients involved was 43.4 years. The mean period of follow up was 161 days. The mean maintenance period was 41 days. The right first toenail was the most common site. Almost ingrown nails healed and the nail deformity was corrected after the procedure. Among the 31 nails, seven of the ingrown nails recurred during follow up (22.6% recurrence rate). The recurrence rate of the patients with stage 1, 2 and 3 ingrown nails was 22.2%, 33.3% and 14.2%, respectively. The majority of patients were very satisfied. There were no side-effects in most patients except loss of nail in one patient. K-D has some advantages such as simple application steps, no deformity after the procedure, high patient satisfaction and obvious effect compared to other non-invasive and invasive methods.

Efficacy of a new nail brace for the treatment of ingrown toenails

“…A unilateral nail brace, it exerts a bending force on the nail through the restoring torque of the wire, which allows for the correction of even severely deformed nails. The principle is similar to that of previously reported shape‐memory alloy devices and the Sogawa method . Similar to the Sogawa method, this nail brace can only be used to treat unilateral disease, and has minimal effects on the healthy side.…”

“…They are associated with similar efficacy but allow patients to return to work sooner. Shape‐memory alloy devices (such as the K‐D device) are safe and effective, although the recurrence rate following their use is higher than that of surgical treatment . In our study, too, the COMBIped brace achieved good results.…”

“…The wire comes in three different thicknesses: the thicker wire exerted a stronger force, which was more suitable for harder nails. Unlike the K‐D device , no anesthesia is required for the application of nail braces. Patients using previously reported devices as well as the nail brace used in the present study were able to return to work immediately as all of these methods alleviate pain.…”

“…Unlike the K‐D device , no anesthesia is required for the application of nail braces. Patients using previously reported devices as well as the nail brace used in the present study were able to return to work immediately as all of these methods alleviate pain. Mean nail brace drop‐off time and total treatment duration were 80.9 and 120.5 days in the present study.…”

“…Nail braces can also be used to correct nail deformities. There have also been reports of shape‐memory alloy devices (such as the K‐D device; S&C Biotech, Seoul, South Korea) in the treatment of ingrown toenails. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of a new nail brace for the treatment of ingrown toenails.…”