Treatment

Stages 1 and 2: A visit to the podiatrist is recommended, who will free the portion of the ingrown nail from the soft tissues and prescribe the use of topical or oral antibiotics.   

Stages 3 and 4: Surgery will be required, with the podiatrist deciding on the most appropriate surgical technique. The surgery is performed with local anaesthesia on an outpatient basis (patient going home on the same day of the operation).  

There are about 15 surgical techniques possible, depending on if the soft tissue, bone or nail plate is operated on or if it is mixed (involving both the nail plate and wall). These treatments are based on the permanent, partial or total removal of the nail. These surgical procedures are called matricectomies and can be chemical (e.g. Phenolisation) or incisional (e.g. the Winograd procedure).  

Complications can occur in any of these surgical techniques, as with any surgery; notable examples are:

• Infection. They have low incidence.  
• Problems with healing.
• Reappearance of the problem (recurrence).