PERMANENT NAIL EXCISION

Onychocryptosis or ingrown/involuted nails, are common in people of all ages. Ingrown toenails can lead to infection and other serious health concerns if not treated. Although we attempt to solve issues with conservative treatment options, some ingrown toenails require surgical intervention. 

There are 4 types of surgical removal of the nail.

1) partial nail avulsion without matrixectomy
2) partial nail avulsion with matixectomy
3) total nail avulsion without matrixectomy
4) total nail avulsion with matrixectomy

A nail avulsion without matrixectomy may be used if the practitioner believes that the nail regrowth will not cause the same problem. More commonly a chemical is applied to the nail matrix to prevent a section, or the entirety of the nail from growing back.

Often a nail surgery is performed for permanent prevention of an ingrown toenails. The most common procedure is a partial nail avulsion with matrixectomy. The toe is “frozen” with local anesthetic, the nail spicule removed and chemical introduced to the nail matrix to permanently prevent that section of nail from growing back. This procedure boasts a very high success rate and can be done in as little at 30 minutes. Once "frozen" the procedure is completely painless, and can be done on people of all ages to permanently prevent the reoccurrence of ingrown toenails.

Videos of the procedures are available on our YouTube channel.

Our skilled and experience team of chiropodists perform hundreds of nail procedures every year, and are experts in ensuring patient comfort. 

A total nail avulsion may be used on a toenail that is so misshaped that pain to the toe is constant. A partial nail avulsion may not be possible as the nail plate is so small, therefore, a total nail avulsion is needed. A total nail avulsion may also be needed to cure the nail of fungus. The nail is removed so that medication can effectively rid the nail of the fungal infection.