Efficacy of intraoperative surgical irrigation with polihexanide and nitrofurazone in reducing bacterial load after nail removal surgery.

BACKGROUND: A common challenge of nail avulsion surgery is the associated bacterial contamination and infection that can manifest. The toe has a difficult anatomy to antiseptically prepare and properly maintain throughout the surgical procedure, lending to this widespread problem. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a controlled, prospective randomized study to examine the antiseptic efficacy of 3 intraoperative irrigation methods during nail avulsion surgery. METHODS: We compared intraoperative antiseptic irrigation using 0.9% saline solution (24 patients), 0.2% nitrofurazone (22 patients), and 0.1% polihexanide (25 patients). Swab samples were taken from each patient at 5 distinct stages throughout the surgical procedure, and bacterial culture analysis was performed (positive culture rate, total inocula count, reduction of bacterial load, and identification of specific micro-organisms). RESULTS: All 3 intraoperative irrigation methods reduced the total bacterial load, but polihexanide was significantly more effective. Furthermore, no patient from the polihexanide group developed postoperative infection. The reduction in bacterial load was lost for all 3 methods after partial nail avulsion surgery, returning to similar values as the initial presurgical bacterial load. An intraoperative irrigation step after partial nail avulsion with saline, nitrofurazone, and polihexanide was effective in reducing the bacterial load by 95.2%, 96.6%, and 99.5%, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Our patients underwent phenol-based nail avulsion, resulting in no bacterial load after complete nail removal because of the intrinsic antiseptic nature of the phenol. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative irrigation with 0.1% polihexanide substantially reduced the bacterial load and subsequent infections, highlighting the importance of an irrigation step in nail avulsion surgery.

A tale of two toes.

Percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is increasingly being performed for patients with suspected paradoxical embolus. We report a rare case of a PFO occluder device related infective endocarditis.

[Septic polyarthritis due to an infected nail bed around an ingrown toenail in a previously healthy boy]. / Septische polyartritis ten gevolge van een geinfecteerd nagelbed rond een ingegroeide teennagel bij een tevoren gezonde jongen.

A 17-year-old, previously healthy boy was admitted with complaints of fever, malaise and pain in the pubic region and groin. His left elbow was also warm and swollen and could not be extended fully. Cultures of fluid drained from both hips and the elbow, blood and inflamed tissue from the nail bed of the right big toe yielded Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics for septic arthritis of both hips, the left elbow and possibly the pubic symphysis. The infected nail bed, which was the most likely port of entry, was also treated. One year later, the original painful symptoms had disappeared but the right hip was almost immobile. In a patient with indications of septic arthritis, timely diagnosis and adequate therapy reduce the risk of permanent damage to the joint.

Silicone gel sheeting for the management and prevention of onychocryptosis.

BACKGROUND: Onychocryptosis, commonly referred to as ingrown nails, has many therapeutic alternatives for its management. Although mild cases can be treated conservatively, in severe cases, surgical treatment is preferred. Silicone gel sheeting is found to be effective in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. OBJECTIVE: To document the effectiveness of silicone gel sheeting in the management of patients with onychocryptosis and in the prevention of the recurrences by breaking the devil's circle, which usually took place after the surgical procedures used in the treatment of the onychocryptosis. METHODS: Fourteen patients were enrolled in the study. Entry criteria required the presence of slight (2 patients), moderate (2 patients), or severe (10 patients) onychocryptosis. The simple technique used in the study was the excision of the one-quarter part of the lesional side of the nail plate without excising the granulation tissue. After 24 hours, the silicone was placed on the granulation tissue and the exposed nail bed. Silicone gel sheet was bandaged loosely without applying any pressure. Patients entering the study were given detailed instructions in applying and using the gel for 12 hours during the daytime. The study lasted for 14 months and was composed of a treatment period of 4 months and a follow-up period of 10 months. The patients were evaluated every 2 weeks in the first month and then monthly. The change in thickness of granulation tissue was evaluated by comparing them with the baseline photographs and those taken at each visit. RESULTS: The management and prevention of onychocryptosis were achieved in 12 of 14 patients (85.71%). The silicone gel sheeting treatment was well tolerated except for an occasional transient exudation, which was resolved when the treatment was withdrawn. CONCLUSION: The results show that the new method that we used for the treatment of onychocryptosis is successful in reducing the thickness of the hypertrophic nail fold and prevents the recurrence of the condition during the regrowth of the nail plate by breaking the devil's circle. The advantage of this method is that it is not destructive to the nail matrix and the adjacent tissue.

Phenol and alcohol chemical matrixectomy in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients. A retrospective study.

The authors performed a retrospective study of the safety and efficacy of toenail phenol and alcohol chemical matrixectomy in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients. Participating in the study were 66 patients, who underwent 137 nail procedures. The diabetic group consisted of 18 patients who underwent 39 procedures; the nondiabetic group consisted of 48 patients who underwent 98 procedures. The mean (+/- SD) healing time was 44 +/- 25 days for the diabetic group and 43 +/- 24 days for the nondiabetic group. The infection rate was 10.3% (4 of 39 procedures) for the diabetic group and 12.2% (12 of 98 procedures) for the nondiabetic group. In addition to validating this procedure for diabetic patients, this study showed no significant differences in the rate of postoperative complications between the two groups.

[Onyxis caused by Malassezia (Pityrosporum) ovalis]. / Onixis por Malassezia (Pityrosporum) ovalis.

Onychia by Malassezia ovalis are described for the first time. They are observed mainly on the hands of young or adult women with semiological characteristics of aphlegmatic onycholysis. In clinical materials M. ovalis is seen as yeasts only or as yeasts and typical hyphae. Cultures are easily obtained on Sabouraud medium containing 2% of bile. It is thought that these lesions are example of an opportunistic mycosis since predisposing local factors are almost always present. Oral or topic treatment with imidazole derivatives has shown to be effective.