Phenol can be used to treat muscle spasticity. It is also used in surgeries for severe ingrown toenails to help prevent them from growing back. Phenol can be used as a vaccine preservative to help keep bacteria from contaminating vaccine solutions.
In hospitals, phenol is commonly found in disinfectants used to sterilize medical equipment. Phenolic germicides are used to clean surfaces in hospitals such as bedside tables, laboratory surfaces and bedrails. They are also used to decontaminate critical or semi-critical devices, such as surgical forceps and endoscopes, before high-level disinfection is used.
Phenol can be injected into your muscles to treat a condition known as muscle spasticity. This happens when your brain doesn’t communicate properly with your spinal cord and nerves. It causes your muscles to become tight.
A phenol injection helps limit the signals sent from your nerves to your muscles that cause contractions. This allows you to move more easily and feel less discomfort. This treatment is similar to getting a botulinum toxin A (Botox) shot. But phenol tends to be more useful for large muscles.