Ingrown toenails are a common condition that can cause extreme pain and discomfort, and make daily life difficult. When an ingrown toenail develops, you should seek treatment from a licensed, professional doctor specialized in feet immediately. This is important to prevent the ingrown toenail from worsening and continuing to affect your life. After your consultation with the doctor, they will determine the best and most effective treatment for you. For most patients with an ingrown toenail, a partial nail avulsion is sufficient to treat the ingrown.
A partial nail avulsion is the most common surgical procedure to treat an ingrown toenail. This is a simple procedure that removes the part of the nail that is growing into the skin. This procedure is usually performed under a local anesthetic; the doctor will inject the anesthetic into your toe and wait for it to take effect before proceeding with the treatment. After your toe is numb, the doctor will perform the surgery and remove the part of the nail that is growing into the skin. Following the procedure, the doctor will dress your toe in a sterile dressing and give you post operative care instructions. These are very important to follow because they will ensure that your toe heals properly from the treatment. One of the most important post operative care steps to take is to rest your toe. Heavy physical activity, especially when wearing tight shoes, can make the toe worse and make it much harder to heal.
Partial nail avulsions may seem like a scary procedure, but often they are the best way to treat an ingrown toenail. To discuss this treatment with a podiatrist and decide if you would like to proceed, you should schedule a consultation. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.