The effect on satisfaction and functional perception of showing preoperative photographs during follow-up after ingrown toenail surgery

INTRODUCTION: Ingrown toenail surgery is a standard procedure that can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. While preoperative photo demonstration has been proven to enhance patient satisfaction in other surgical fields, its potential in ingrown toenail surgery remains unexplored. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether exposure to preoperative photographs influences the perception of postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing ingrown toenail surgery using the Winograd technique. METHODS: This retrospective study included 126 patients who underwent ingrown toenail surgery using the Winograd technique between January 2022 and August 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether standardized preoperative clinical photographs were shown: Group 1 (photographs shown) and Group 2 (photographs not shown). All patients were followed up for 12 months. Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), and the Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS). Both groups were compared using these scores and recurrence rates. RESULTS: Significant postoperative improvements were observed in both Group 1 (n = 57) and Group 2 (n = 69) in VAS, DLQI, MOXFQ, and PSS scores (p < 0.001). The postoperative VAS score was significantly lower in Group 1 (2.15 ± 2.07) compared to Group 2 (3.01 ± 2.20) (p = 0.015). The postoperative PSS score was significantly higher in Group 1 (7.95 ± 2.64) than in Group 2 (6.19 ± 2.95) (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups regarding recurrence rates (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative photograph presentation may modify patients' perception of postoperative outcomes, rather than directly improving clinical results. This approach may be considered a potential adjunct to the patient education process, offering a promising avenue for improving patient outcomes.