Toenail Injuries, Infections, and Conditions Can Cause Pain and Discomfort

Toenail Surgery is employed to alleviate the followng type deformities:

Ingrowing Toenail
Incurvated Nail
Fungus Nail
Thick Nail (Hypertrophied)
Injury to a Toenail

Ingrown Toenail & Incurvated Nail

This is a condition in which a portion of nail presses into the flesh, causing pain, redness and sometimes infection. If this condition is untreated, proud flesh may form along the nail border and you may get an infection.

Say Goodbye To Painful Nails Permanetly

This surgery is performed with local anesthesia. Preoperative X-rays may be taken to be sure there is no bone spur involved. Removal of a portion of the nail border causing the problem will give temporary relief. Permanent correction may be required if this is a recurring problem. This correction is performed under local anesthesia, and consists of removal of the offending portion of nail and nail root.

Subungal Exostosis (Bone Spur under the Nail)

Sometimes deformed nails are assoociated with a small bone spur on the tip of the toe under the nail. This can cause considerable discomfort at the nail or just underneath. The skin between the nail and the bone can get pinched and sometimes a corn can form in that spot. If the nail is removed, without removing the bone spur, the corn will continue to form on the tip of the toe. Therefore the most effective way to treat this condition is to make a small openning in the tip of the toe and insert a small surgical instrument to reduce the spur. This bone spur can easily be removed with this technique and helps to insure a lasting result. Sometimes a stitch or stitches are used to close the opening in the tip of the toe. Most likely there will be mild tenderrness in the tip of the toe for a few days which will pass by quickly. Many people may not experience this tenderness. The ability to walk following this proocedure is usually no problem.

Thickened Deformity of Toenails

This condition can be associated with a fungus of the nails, injury to the nail or it may be inherited. Treatment may require removal of the nail and destruction of the nail root. This type of permanent correction requires local anesthesia.

Chemical Cauterization for Permanent Nail Removal

This procedure involves the removal of one side of a toenail and the careful debriding and cleansing of this area for any type of fungus tissue that may be present. The root area of that portion of the toenail that is to be removed permanently is then treated with a chemical agent which destroys that portion of the root. If the entire toenail is removed, then the same procedure is employed for the entire tissue under the nail and the complete root area of the toenail to prevent the nail from growing back.
Dr. Perlstein will dress your toe after chemical surgery with appropriate medication, and give you instructions for home care and an appropriate prescription for medication to dress your toe. There is normally very little, if any, pain after either one of these surgical procedures. Dr. Perlstein will instruct you accordingly, and prescribe whatever appropriate medication you may need for pain. Usually, after the first day, you do not need to wear a cut-out or surgical shoe, if you follow Dr. Perlstein's instructions. You will usually be able to walk comfortably after either of these procedures.

Post - Operative Care

Most of these surgeries can be performed in the office. Walking is usually permitted immediately following the surgery. Dr. Perlstein may allow you to walk in your normal shoe or sneaker. Dr. Perlstein may prescribe medication to be taken if needed for discomfort.

Summary

Dr. Perlstein will instruct you as to the proper way to cut your nails in the future. If you have difficult nails to cut (incurvated or thick), Dr. Perlstein will advise you to have periodic professional foot care at his office. You should follow Dr. Perlstein's advice carefully to avoid any future problems with your toenails. There may be additional methods of treatment for this common foot problem. Dr. Perlstein will discuss this with you. Each doctor develops a favorite treatment, and probably has the best percentage of results with that approach. Complete cooperation between you and Dr. Perlstein is essential for a satisfactory result.

Dr. Michael Perlstein's podiatry office is located at 4414 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. He serves patients throughout the greater New York City area, including those residing in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Dr. Perlstein's office is open Monday through Friday as well as on Sunday.