INGROWING TOENAILS
AND NAIL SURGERY
INGROWING TOENAILS & NAIL SURGERY
Ingrowing toenails have several causes:
- Poor cutting technique
- Picking of the nail as opposed to cutting the nail
- Excessive curling round of the nail
- Trauma to the nail
- Fungal infection
Initially conservative treatments are tried to resolve the problem, by using packings and/or nail bracing, but in certain circumstance the podiatrist must perform minor surgery.
There are two types of surgery performed.
- Partial nail surgery only removing the side of the offending nail.
- Full nail removal, removing the whole nail.
A chemical is used at the time of the surgery to stop the nail regrowing, in a very few cases the nail regrows. Both procedures are performed under local anaesthetic.
