If you have an ingrown toenail, you may be aware that this unpleasant problem can be resolved with nail avulsion. But unless you have a background in podiatry, you’re probably unsure exactly what the term means, which is why we’ve created this ingrown toenail avulsion guide.
Avulsion is defined as separating one body part from another. Ingrown toenail avulsion is a type of toenail surgery performed by our London podiatrists, during which they remove some/all of an ingrown nail from the nail bed so it can no longer cause issues such as pain and infection.
As we’ll explain, if conservative treatment isn’t providing sufficient relief and you’re wondering what to do about your ingrown toenail now, it’s sensible to consider a permanent solution in the form of nail avulsion. Why not contact us today to discuss your circumstances?
Ingrown Toenails Can Be Debilitating
Ingrown toenails account for about 20% of minor foot problems, and many cases require nail avulsion. The big toenail is most likely to become ingrown, as the big toe bears more weight and is exposed to more pressure than the other toes due to its size and the crucial role it plays in forward motion.
A nail can be described as ingrowing if one or both sides press against or pierce the neighbouring area of skin, which is known as the lateral nail fold. It’s no exaggeration to say the problem can be debilitating. Ingrown toenails can lead to redness, swelling and sharp, severe pain.
The pain is particularly noticeable when people wear restrictive shoes, stand, walk or run. An ingrown toenail can make commuting to work on the London Underground, say, extremely challenging. The problem can also take the fun out of playing sports and disrupt sleep.
Moreover, bacteria can easily penetrate skin that’s been punctured by an ingrown nail and cause nasty infections.
Ingrown Nails Have Numerous Risk Factors
Many factors increase an individual’s risk of developing an ingrown toenail, such as:
- Being born with fan-shaped or curved pincer nails – they put pressure on nail folds
- Not trimming toenails straight across – giving them curved edges interferes with their natural growth pattern
- Developing fungal nail infections – they make nails thick and jagged
- Not wearing breathable socks/shoes or washing feet daily – sweaty skin is softer and therefore more easily pierced
- Wearing uncomfortable, narrow shoes that squeeze toes together
- Injuring the front of the foot – trauma can disrupt normal toenail growth
- Developing foot deformities such as bunions and hammer toes, which put nails under pressure
- Having a family history of ingrown nails
Conservative Treatment vs Nail Avulsion
It’s vital that people don’t ignore ingrown toenails. The problem ‘will not go away without intervention,’ emphasises Medical News Today.
If a person’s toe isn’t infected or very painful, conservative treatment may be enough to keep the ingrowing nail under control.
However, there are situations in which toenail surgery is more appropriate. We normally recommend ingrown nail avulsion if a patient’s nail has created a deep wound in the toe and the area is infected and/or particularly painful.
There are two forms of ingrown toenail avulsion:
- Partial nail avulsion – one or both sides of the nail are removed. This is the most frequently performed type of nail avulsion and is ideal when most of the nail is healthy. It leaves you with a narrower but fairly normal-looking nail.
- Total nail avulsion – the whole nail is removed. This type of toenail avulsion is reserved for severe cases involving nails that are extremely misshapen or thick. It leaves an indentation where your toenail used to be but shouldn’t impair foot function.
What Happens During Ingrown Toenail Avulsion Surgery
If you’re wondering what to expect from ingrown toenail surgery, please rest assured that it’s a straightforward process. Nail avulsion only requires a local anaesthetic and is performed at our hygienic London foot care clinics.
During your toenail surgery, your podiatrist will anesthetise your toe, remove part/all of the ingrowing nail, apply phenol to prevent nail regrowth in the affected area, and finally apply a dressing.
Your toe will need several weeks to heal, but don’t worry. We’ll show you how to redress it, plus you’ll attend helpful follow-up sessions.
With toenail avulsion surgery, you can eliminate ingrown nail problems and get back to normal.
For expert ingrown toenail treatment in London, book an appointment with Feet By Pody today.