# Deviation of the Nail Lamina after Unilateral Partial Matricectomy

## TL;DR

This study examines whether surgery for ingrown toenails causes the nail to grow sideways and finds no significant changes.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence refuting the common belief that unilateral partial matricectomy causes transverse nail deviation.

## Key findings

- No statistically significant differences were found between operated and non-operated nail folds.
- Measurements over time showed no significant changes in nail plate orientation.
- Nail plate angles seem influenced by individual nail morphology rather than surgery.

## Abstract

Deviation of the nail plate in the transverse plane has traditionally been regarded as a postoperative complication following the definitive surgical treatment of ingrown toenails, particularly when only a single nail fold is addressed. The quantification and longitudinal comparison of the operated versus non-operated nail folds could elucidate potential transverse deviations of the nail plate. The objective of this study was to assess the presence or absence of transverse nail plate deviation following ingrown toenail surgery on a single nail fold. Methods: A cohort of 11 patients (three males, eight females) with recurrent ingrown toenails undergoing unilateral partial matricectomy were included in this study. Preoperative measurements were compared to those taken at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days postoperatively. Results: The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in measurements between the operated and non-operated nail folds, nor were there significant changes in the measurements over time within each group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Despite the absence of visible deviations in the orientation of the nail plate, the angular measurements post-surgery at 35 days showed no statistically significant alterations. The angular values observed across all time points appeared to be influenced by the intrinsic morphological characteristics of each nail plate.