The commonest (and most painful) nail condition that we encounter at Letchworth Podiatry clinic is ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis). These are often caused by poor cutting techniques or awkwardly shaped (involuted) nails. Ingrown nails can become infected which increases the pain experienced in the area. Ingrown toenails may be a one-off problem or one that recurs with regular frequency. Patients often find they are unable to wear their normal footwear and participate in sports as the pain is too great, especially if the toenail is infected.

Other painful nail conditions treated by nail surgery include grossly thickened, deformed nails (onychogryphosis) and fungally-infected toenails (onychomychosis). Thickened and fungally-infected toenails can cause great discomfort when pressure is applied from footwear.

Some toenail problems can be managed with regular conservative care, however, should these conditions become chronically painful, debilitating or frequently infected, nail surgery is often the best long term and permanent solution.

 
 

Ingrown toenail
A painful infected ingrown toenail before corrective nail surgery

 


Nail surgery can be performed by our podiatrists under local anaesthetic. It is a simple and painless procedure that generally takes under an hour. The nail bed is destroyed with a chemical known as phenol to prevent the problem from recurring in the future. We always strive to ensure that once fully healed the toenail is aesthetically appealing.

You require a pair of sandals or flip-flops following your surgery as the initial dressing is somewhat bulky. You should also ensure that you arrange for someone to take you home.

Following surgery we advise complete rest for 24 hours and, if necessary, take a non-aspirin-based pain killer, such as paracetamol.

You will have two redressing appointments, the first within 24 hours of the nail surgery and the second a week later. During the first you will be shown how to cleanse and redress your toe at home. During the second the podiatrist will ensure that the toe is healing normally and without complication. It is important that you attend these appointments.

If there are no complications it takes around four weeks for a partial toenail removal (PNA) to fully heal and six weeks for total toenail removal (TNA), providing that pressure to the area is minimised by wearing sandals or shoes with adequate depth and width in the toe box area and post operative infection does not occur.

There is a slight risk that nail regrowth may occur (around 5% chance) and require further surgical intervention.

  

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15, The Wynd, Letchworth Garden City, Herts, SG6 3EN

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email: info@letchworthpodiatryclinic.co.uk