Nail surgery for Painful & Ingrowing Toenails

If conservative treatment has not resolved your ingrowing toenail, then nail surgery can be considered.

This is normally completed under a local anaesthetic, which involves two injections at the base of the toe.

A partial nail avulsion is were a section of nail is removed from the offending side of the toenail, to create an altered shape. A chemical called phenol is applied to where the nail has been removed to stop the in-growing toenail from reoccurring.

The procedure takes approximately 10-15minutes, however, please allow for up to 1hour for preparation and post-operative monitoring.

Some patients experience mild pain and discomfort following the procedure for which it is advised you take some painkillers prior to the anaesthetic wearing off.

It is important for you to go home and elevate your for and rest for 48hours after the procedure.

It is recommended that you do not drive or take public transport home, either take public transport or get collected.

You are required to keep the initial dressing on and dry until your next appointment (5-7 days).

You will be shown how to look after your toe

Healing takes approximately 4-6weeks, for this duration is important to keep a dressing on your toe, it is quite normal for the surgery site to discharge whilst healing is occurring.

• Infection (2-4%)
• Recurrence and regrowth of the offending nail 5-8% and up to 10% undergoing total nail removal.
• Delayed healing may occur which may be bought about by a chronic infection pre-op
• Adverse reaction to phenol
• Adverse reaction to local anaesthesia
• A thickened nail plate
• Altered nail shape, every effort is made to provide a cosmetic appearance, sometimes due to a large involuted plate or chronic infection, a large section needs to be removed.
• Nail cyst

Complications following foot surgery are rare but can occur. Management of a complication can be varied to include medication, therapy and on occasion further surgery. Most complications resolve without permanent disability or pain however some complications can have long term implications and the desired outcome may not be achieved.