Clinical survey results
The benefits of corrective nail braces were investigated within the scope of a doctoral thesis at the University of Erlangen (Germany) which analyzed the effect of three-segment wire braces (3TO braces). Dr. Harrer compared the effects of the three-segment wire brace with the Emmert operation on two groups of patients with severe ingrown and inflamed nails.
The survey examined pain characteristics, the effect of the treatment on sickness figures and costs in detail.
These were the findings
- All patients using the brace stated that they experienced the brace as “not disturbing at all”, which indicates a high degree of patient comfort.
- Treatment with corrective nail braces was significantly less painful than the surgical intervention.
Pain
Patients undergoing brace therapy were, on average, able to wear sturdy shoes after 0.7 days without pain, while patients who had undergone surgical treatment had to wait 19.4 days.
Interference of the everyday life caused by pain
The average time off work for employed patients was 0 calendar days for patients undergoing brace treatment and 14.2 days for patients who had undergone surgical treatment.
Conclusion
The results of the survey suggest that corrective nail braces provide a painless and conservative method with a low relapse rate for treating unguis incarnatus. The everyday life of patients is much less affected and time off work is reduced. This form of therapy should therefore be used for patients with unguis incarnatus wherever possible.
