Ingrown Toe Nail Surgery

An ingrown toenail can be a painful condition where the side of the nail irritates the surrounding skin. This may cause redness, and swelling, and in some cases can pierce the skin resulting in an infection. It more commonly affects the big toenail, but can also affect the lesser digits. Extra skin can be present on the affected side of the toe due to irritation and infection of the skin. If you don’t get it treated then the infection can spread.

The following can cause persistent and regular issues which can cause this to be a chronic condition.

• Cutting down the side of the nail and leaving behind a piece of nail. To avoid this make sure you cut your nails straight across.

• Wearing shoes that are too narrow, tight, or small

• Excessive sweating

• Poor foot hygiene

• Damage to the toenails

A partial nail avulsion (PNA aka Nail Surgery) is needed for persistent problems with an ingrown toenail that cause infection, ongoing pain, or interfere with activities like walking or wearing shoes. It may also be recommended for repeatedly occurring ingrown toenails or extremely thickened nails that are causing discomfort and haven't responded to less invasive treatments. The procedure is a permanent solution that removes the affected part of the nail and underlying tissue to prevent it from growing back and causing further problems.  

This minor procedure can be performed in the clinic under local anesthetic and the patient can walk in and out on the same day.

A Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) is completed with a chemical matrixectomy which means removing the problematic part of the nail and applying a chemical to permanently prevent the problematic nail from growing back. Sometimes a Total Nail Avulsion (TNA) can be performed, which means removing the whole nail in severe cases.

You may not be a suitable candidate for this procedure if you have certain medical conditions, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have allergies to the local anesthetic.