Correction of pincer nail deformity with phenol.

From 2006 to 2009 we treated nine cases (11 toes) with pincer nail deformity of the first toe, using phenol. There were 8 women and 1 man, age range 9-81 years (mean 51). They were followed up for 7-17 months (mean 12) and all reported improvement of the pincer nail deformity and disappearance of pain from the first toes. Only one woman complained of a recurrent pincer nail deformity eight months after the first treatment, and the procedure was repeated. The mechanism of improvement is contraction of the phenolised wound away from the lateral nail fold, which gradually stretches and flattens the nail bed. We conclude that this technique is a simple and effective treatment for pincer nail deformity.