[Outcome of treatment of ingrown toe nails in the child].

Difficulties encountered and long-term results of surgical treatment of ingrown toenails are well documented in the adult patient. In infants and children, however, little is known about this problematic entity. We therefore performed a follow-up study in 91 out of 99 ingrowing toenails in children up to 14 years. The patients were treated in our department from 1990 to 1994 mainly by wedge resection. 64 nail folds remained free of symptoms after single surgical treatment. Recurrence of infection or nail spikes was found in 21 out of 85 nail folds. In children, conservative treatments with antimicrobial ointments, gutter treatment, and in selected cases systemic antibiotics, are more promising than in adults. If these efforts remain unsuccessful, the only reliable surgical approach is a radical wedge resection.