Nail Packing and Viscogel

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Hi all,

I have a bit of a query about a particular product and whether there is any evidence behind its use.

Basically when I was doing my training we used Viscogel to pack nail sucli with to prevent pain and onychocryptosis. Patients seemed to love it and it was regarded as very successful seeing as it was non-absorbant and long lasting (some patient's who attended every 2-3 months would still have it noticeably in situ at their next appointment).

However it seems that no one I've talked to who trained elsewhere has heard of it and I can't find anything about its use so far through searching on here and the net.

Can anyone provide any enlightenment?

http://www.dentsply.co.uk/Products/Restorative/Accessories/Viscogel.aspx (in case looking at the product jogs your memory.)

 

Why wouldn't you just do a partial nail avulsion?

 

Often it isn't possible to do a PNA due to long waiting lists (In Singapore we have require patients to have a pre-surgical check with their doctor and have documentation saying they are fit for Local Anaesthetic and Nail Avulsion for legal reasons which slows the process down dramatically), patient's being unsuitable to nail surgery due to their systemic health or patient's being against surgery for various reasons such as phobia, lack of money and so on.

Add to this the fact that often nails may be painful due to short term problems such as improper nail cutting or trauma to the nail which if allowed to grow out may not recur and you can see why a conservative method may be preferred/necessary.

Basically the main reason I am asking about this product and any others that are similar is that I'm looking for a better packing material then foam or cotton wool as these are regarded as being unsuitable locally. What I was hoping for was that someone would have a RCT or Systematic review supporting its use or at least some personal experiences backing its use or highlighting problems with its use.

Additional: I thought about what you were saying and thought that maybe I might have been initially unclear, it is for painful involuted nails and so on that may progress to onychocryptosis rather then for nail spikes, active onychocryptosis and so on which of course would be sectioned with or without anaesthetic/phenolization as the situation demanded.