Ingrown Toenail Surgery

Ingrown toenails or onychocryptosis are most common in the big toe, but can be found in the other toes as well. A normal toenail grows vertically while a ingrown toenail is caused by sideways nail growth. They are usually caused by the side portion of the nail pinching or penetrating into the skin on the outer edge of the toe. This can lead to inflammation or infection. A portion of the nail pushes into the skin which causes pain and injury. Inflammation causes the skin to thicken or fold, which can make the problem worse.

There is a long list of possible causes of an ingrown toenail:
-tight fitting shoes or poorly fitted shoes
-prior trauma or injury to the feet
-poor foot hygiene
-excessive foot sweat
-improper toenail trimming

Athletic children or teenagers are more prone to ingrown toenails than adults. Other people who are at risk are people who have arthritis, diabetes, or are obese. Some people may get ingrown toenails because of the natural shape of their toenails. A curved toenail is more likely to cause an ingrown toenail than one that grows in flat. Also, people who have naturally plump toes have a higher chance of getting an ingrown toenail.

If the ingrown toenail has not progressed into anything serious, it can be treat by soaking it for 10 minutes, three times a day.

The best soaking solutions are:
-diluted house hold vinegar (one part vinegar, four parts water)
-warm water with Epsom salt
-a cap full of bleach in a bucket of water

Other things that can help are elevating the foot. Try gently rolling back the piece of overgrown skin and soaking the toe. If the nail is pinching or cutting into the nail, carefully slip a wisp of cotton or un-flavored dental floss under the nail’s edge to help lift the nail off the skin. You can avoid or treat ingrown toenails by trimming the toenail straight across. Be careful not to cut it too short.

If it’s very painful, infected, or there is no noticeable progress within 5-10 days it may be time to see a physician. Symptoms of an infection are enlarging of the area or a red streak on the toe. Tissue infection symptoms are swelling, redness, or throbbing. If Yellow or green fluid begins draining from the area it will need drainage and antibiotics.

Ingrown toenails can be treated through oral antibiotics. Resistant or recurring ingrown toenail may need ingrown toenail surgery. A minor case will be treated by trimming back the part of the nail that is stabbing into the skin. During the surgery the embedded nail is removed out of the way of the skin and toe tissue. Sometimes 1/3 of the side nail needs to be removed. Sever cases will need matricectomy, which is surgically, electrically, or chemically removing the nail matrix (the base of the nail). After surgery, the toe will need additional treatment, soaking, and wound care to prevent another infection. Common side effects of nail surgery are nail deformation, which will be less cosmetically pleasing but other than that there are little complications.