An ingrowing toenail (or Onychocryptosis) is a most painful condition where the nail or a splinter of nail actually pierces the nail groove, sometimes penetrating very deeply into the skin. Almost always this puncture becomes the site of infection. The skin around the affected part becomes red, swollen, distended and inflamed. As the toe nail grows further forward, the penetration increases and the inflammation gets worse resulting in the presence of pus and excessive granulation of tissue overlapping the nail. This looks like a soggy, bloody mass resembling an open wound.
Adolescent males are the most frequent sufferers of this condition and, those with excessively sweating feet, making the nail grooves macerated and soft. Badly fitting footwear, cutting the nails incorrectly, and picking the nails, something which a lot of people do absent mindedly, are all causes. Flat feet, bad weight bearing, posture and gait all can increase the abnormal pressure on the skin surrounding the nail or the nail itself, forcing it deeper into the tissues. If the condition is left untreated, the worst scenario would be that the infection gets worse, then spreads resulting in cellulitis, lymphangitis and septicaemia.
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, If mild then the nail can be cut by a competent practitioner, the splinter, if present can be removed and then dressed if necessary. Appropriate advice should be given regarding the cutting of toenails and the wearing of correct footwear. If the ingrowing toenail is more complicated then a more surgical type procedure is adopted or ultimately, if the problem is of a chronic nature surgical removal of the nail may be required, obviously under anesthesia.
These types of operations may be covered at a later date.
6 weeks after surgery
