Leading on from our previous news post about ingrown toenails, we’ve had questions asked around the surgical treatment. Further to our brief outline we would like to answer the following common questions. Let’s quickly revisit what we already know.
Sometimes your ingrown toenails become chronic, with repeated episodes of pain and infection.
In the past, a full toenail often had to be removed because of recurrent in-growing. Fortunately, those days are gone. This procedure has been further developed into ‘keyhole’ surgery, where minimal disruption to surrounding tissue and structures means a faster and more comfortable recovery, and no stitches.
At Footpoint Podiatry, we use a procedure called partial nail avulsion with sterilisation. This will remove a small piece of the offending nail aesthetically and eliminate regrowth. We use a local anaesthetic for all nail surgery so the procedure is pain-free.
We pride ourselves on aesthetics (cosmetic appearance) and comfort here at Footpoint Podiatry. A good result is a combination of patient comfort, no nail regrowth, and a pleasant looking nail remaining with only the offending piece removed.
This procedure is safe for children, and most diabetics. We do ask if you are diabetic, especially with complications, please get clearance from your GP. There is minimal downtime associated with this procedure. Patients can immediately return home, and some head straight to work. It is ideal to elevate your foot as much as possible for the initial 24-48 hours. Being responsible regarding driving after is important, as you do have numbness in your foot. Some patients require mild pain killers around 2 hours after, but most of our feedback gathered shows that it is rarely needed. Typically healing time is 2-3 weeks, with simple dressing required. Review appointments are given to ensure healing and monitor any potential nail regrowth.
Please understand whilst this information is given to help you understand this process in greater detail, please contact the Footpoint Podiatry Team to discuss your individual care needs.
You can find some more information about ingrown toenails surgery here – Toenail Surgery
