Ingrown Toe Nail
Ingrown Toe Nail Surgery
This is a very common condition of the foot, seen in young active adults in particular.
What is an ingrown toe nail?
This is where the side of the nail punctures the soft-tissue fold (nail sulcus) causing pain and chronic inflammation. The body will see the nail as a "foreign body" like a spell or splinter and tries to destroy it, which sets up a chronic inflammatory response. This is seen as redness and swelling and reddy-purple tissue called granulation tissue in response to the "foreign body". This is usually accompanied by infection and a yellow or white pus-like discharge is often seen.
Sometimes the inflammatory response is not present and it is the shape of the nail (abnormal curved or involuted nail), which causes the nail to dig into the side of the nail sulcus.
Corrective Nail Surgery Procedure
There are two main types of ingrown toe nail surgery procedure in common use, and we have over 23 years experience in treating this condition. One involves removing the nail section and applying a chemical (ablation) to destroy the nail-producing tissue (partial nail avulsion or PNA). The other involves removing a section of the nail and inflammed tissue (nail wedge resection). In our practice, both are utilized but generally we prefer to use the nail wedge resection because healing is faster than with chemical ablation.
Results and Aftercare
The PNA can be performed in our outpatient centre at number 9. The nail wedge resection (NWR) is more commonly performed in an operating theatre. The wound will weep for longer with the PNA (~6-weeks), but the surgery is less invasive. For a quicker healing time we use the NWR; although both are aesthetically pleasing and carry the same risks such as infection or nail regrowth (~3-5% risk). Pain is very rarely an issue unless multiple procedures are performed, and we will advise you on this area prior to treatment. Success rates are very high with these procedures and patients will rarely require any more treatment once they have healed. We will see you for 2-3 follow-up consultations at 9 Harley St. Most patient can commence bathing and dressing the wound themselves after 3-4 days. With the NWR procedure, stitches are removed after 2-weeks.
