Ingrown Toenails - A Guide for the Bathroom Surgeon

Copyright (c) 2010 Marco A Vargas

As podiatrists, one of the most common conditions that we treat are ingrown toenails. Typically, patients will make an appointment after having tried to cut the nail out themselves or having tried products found in the local drug store. Others just tough it out until they or their loved one can't stand the pain or site of it. Here is some useful information to consider if you suffer from this common condition.

Ingrown nails are typically due to an inherited condition that causes the edge of the nail to grow into the flesh of the toe which then causes pain, swelling and infection. While shoes and trauma can cause ingrown nails, most of the time they are hereditary and unavoidable. Left unattended, they can become extremely infected which can lead to loss of bone or amputation. Therefore, it is best to have them taken care of as soon as possible to avoid potentially disastrous complications.

Treatment of ingrown toenails can be as simple as cutting the leading edge of the nail on the side that hurts. Sometimes, this is enough to remove the painful nail spicule and can be done at home by the patient themselves. However, if the condition persists, a simple visit to a podiatrist will take care of the problem in just a few minutes. It consists of numbing the toe in the office, removing the offending nail border and using a chemical to ensure that the ingrown portion of the nail does not regrow. Following the procedure, patients can put their shoe on and walk out of the office. The only aftercare required is to wash the toe daily and apply antibiotic ointment and a band-aid. The toe usually heals within 10-14 days.

Occasionally ingrown nails can be caused by a small bone spur which develops on the bone under the nail bed and causes the nail to deform and become ingrown. In these cases, after confirming the bone spur on an x-ray, most podiatrists perform a procedure under local anesthesia where they make a small incision on the toe and file the bone spur down to relieve the pressure on the nail. At the same time, it may be necessary to do the procedure described previously as well to address the infection.

While many people take ingrown nails lightly, they can have serious consequences if left untreated. Just ask Yao Ming, the center for the Houston Rockets basketball team who had to have part of his big toe bone removed because of an infection from an ingrown nail which led him to miss several games at a crucial time during the season. In the case of diabetics, the consequences can be even more devastating as the infection can lead to amputation.

Therefore, perform bathroom surgery on your toes at your own risk and be aware of the consequences if your surgery is unsuccessful. If your ingrown nail persists, get a "second opinion" from your friendly local podiatrist who will be close by waiting to give you relief with a quick and easy solution.

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