MEDICAL FOOT CARE

Nail surgery is the application of chemicals such as surgical procedures or phenol to the subungual tissues by removing a part or all of the nail plaque after anesthetizing the relevant area. In some cases, surgical procedure can be applied to the tissues around the nail without removing the nail plate. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as biopsy, ingrown toenail treatment, tumor removal, and correction of deformities can be performed via nail surgery.

What is Nail Surgery?

Since biopsy is a diagnostic procedure, there is no alternative in a situation where pathological examination is deemed necessary. Ingrown toenail treatment has alternative treatment methods such as tube, wire, banding etc., however, if the granulation tissue due to the ingrown toenail (leaking vein-rich bleeding red lesion) and nail fold hypertrophy (thickening of the nail edge skin fold) have developed, surgical methods are recommended as a permanent treatment. If the surgical removal of the tumors is necessary and pathological examination is to be performed, the surgical method should be preferred. Since the correction of deformities can be left without treatment, it will be carried out as a result of the joint decision of the patient and the doctor.

Alternatives of the Process

As a result of the surgical treatment of ingrown toenails, a permanent improvement of 95-99% is expected. If the biopsy procedure will be performed, the pathological examination of your problem will be performed. If the tumor is removed, both your disease will be treated and the histopathological diagnosis of the disease will be made as a result of the pathological examination.

Expected Benefits of the Process

Allergy to the drugs, which is rarely used for anesthesizing during the procedure (very rarely, it can be fatal), and rarely prolonged bleeding and infection may occur after the procedure. If the treatment of ingrown toenails will be done by using phenol, a long-term discharge may be seen from the wound area after the application. After nail surgery, pain and throbbing will often be seen for which painkillers may be required. Depending on the type of nail surgery, permanent nail deformity may occur. Although very rare, cyst or prickly nail protrusion may occur around the nail and the need for a second surgical intervention may arise after the surgery. Tendon injury, joint movement limitation, nerve damage and numbness, bone inflammation, and pyogenic granuloma (glomerulus) formation are very rarely seen side effects after nail surgery.

Risks and Complications of the Procedure

If the treatment for ingrown toenail is not applied, if you have pain, your complaints of discharge and inability to wear comfortable shoes will continue. Since it is an open wound, your risk of catching an infection will continue. In the absence of a diagnostic biopsy procedure, detailed information about your disease will not be available as a result of the pathological examination, and most of the time, your definitive diagnosis will not be made. It will not be clear whether the lesion to be taken for biopsy is malignant or benign. If there is a tumor and it is painful, your pain will continue.

Points to Consider Before the Procedure

Do not spend a sleepless night before surgery , as the procedure will not be relatively difficult.

Since you may not be able to drive after the procedure, organize a taxi or similar means of transportation.

Have your breakfast or lunch before the procedure.

Bring all the medicines you normally use with you when you come for the procedure.

It would be appropriate for the patients who will be treated from his/her toenails to bring slippers or open-toed shoes that they can wear together with the dressing to be applied after the procedure.

If you have nail polish or polish on your nails, they must be removed before the procedure.

What is the Implementation Stage of the Process?

Before starting the process, the area will be anesthesized with an anesthetic to be injected around your nail. You may feel some pain at this time.

You may feel pressure on the area during the procedure, but you will not feel pain.

To control bleeding during the procedure, if necessary, your finger will be tightly wrapped with a rubber band.

In the treatment of ingrown toenails with phenol, after the ingrown toenail is removed, phenol will be applied to that area so that it does not grow again.

After the procedure, your wound will be dressed and covered with gauze.

The process may take between 30 minutes and 60 minutes.

The numbness in your finger will continue for up to 8 hours. Do not drive after the procedure, especially until the numbness disappears. If your toe has been treated, do not take long walks. To accelerate wound healing, rest for 24-48 hours by keeping your feet slightly elevated. When you get home, take your painkiller if your doctor has recommended. Do not open the dressing after surgery for 2 days. Make/have your next dressings as recommended. A small amount of bleeding and discharge on the dressing material is normal. Recovery may take 4-12 weeks. If all of your toenails are removed during the procedure, the growth of the new nails will take approximately 6 months for fingernails and 9-12 months for toenails.