Therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in an ingrown toenail: A dermatologist domain – A prospective interventional study

Objectives An ingrown toenail is a common and painful nail disease among adolescents and young adults. Despite innumerable treatment options, the ideal technique with complete resolution of signs and symptoms and a low recurrence rate still remains an elusive option. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in ingrown toenails and to study its role in preventing the recurrence of ingrown toenails. Materials and Methods A total of 30 patients with 33 ingrown toenails were enrolled in the study. All cases were diagnosed based on clinical examination followed by routine and specific investigations. Staging of ingrown toenails was done by Mogensen classification into stages I, IIa, IIb, and III. Then, the procedure of radiofrequency ablation was done and patients were followed up for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 19.0 version (with P < 0.05 kept as significant). Results At 12 weeks, 30 nails out of 33 involved nails showed complete recovery (grade 3 improvement) after radiofrequency ablation, and one nail showed moderate recovery with grade 2 improvement. One nail did not respond to the procedure while one nail reverted to grade 0 improvement at 3 weeks of follow-up period. Recurrence occurred in only 1 (3%) out of 33 treated nails. The overall cure rate was 91%. Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation being safe, effective, and cosmetically acceptable with complete remission can be used as the preferred treatment option in all stages of ingrown toenails.