Do you have a recurring ingrown toenail and don’t know what to do?
Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem we see here at Southern Podiatry. The treatment methods vary depending on how advanced the problem is and the individual needs of the patient too, so we’ll always tailor a treatment to you.
For patients whose ingrown toenail issues are long-term and recurring, ingrown toenail surgery is likely to be the best option. When conservative and non-invasive treatments are unsuccessful, surgery removing the nail edge (which doesn’t grow back) can be a better permanent solution to avoid continual discomfort and pain.
When is it time to consider toenail surgery?
- Chronic ingrown toenail
- Recurring ingrown toenail despite frequent conservative care
- Ingrown toenails that are negatively impacting your lifestyle, causing significant pain and footwear use problems
Types of Ingrown Toenail Surgery
During a pre-surgery consultation, Treena will explain the different surgery options, and work out the best plan for your ingrown toenail removal as there are a couple of options available. Partial Nail Avulsion with phenolisation (PNA) is the most common procedure; the side of the toenail is permanently removed while maintaining a natural look. In rare cases, a Total Nail Avulsion (TNA) surgery will be required, where the entire nail is removed to avoid any potential future complications.
Partial Nail Avulsion
PNA surgery permanently removes the side of the nail that is causing damage to the skin. It is a quick & routine procedure, normally used in simple cases of ingrown toenails that can’t be resolved with conservative treatments. It’s also preferred as the majority of the nail can be left attached.
Benefits
- A quick procedure – just 45 to 60 minutes
- A normal-looking nail is left after healing
- 98 per cent success rate
- Fixes the issue permanently
- A quick recovery time
Total Nail Avulsion
TNA surgery permanently removes the entire nail, normally carried out only when a severely damaged or thickened toenail causes recurring problems that the more simple PNA surgery will not fix. This is not the preferred treatment, but in rare cases it can be necessary to avoid future problems.
Benefits
- A permanent solution for the nail
- Won’t grow back
- 98 per cent success rate
- A quick procedure – just 45 to 60 minutes
- Rapid recovery rates
The Procedure
It is a quick and simple solution for painful ingrown nails. Once the toe is numbed, there are just four steps to follow.
Step One
After the toe is numbed, a tourniquet is applied to limit blood flow and the nail edge is cut and split from the nail plate.
Step Two
The cut nail edge is gently removed from the nail fold and any remaining fragments are removed. Extra tissue that has grown over the site will also be removed at this point.
Step Three
The phenol acid is applied to destroy the nail matrix and the toenail is flushed with a clean solution.
Step Four
The tourniquet is removed, the toe dressed with an antibiotic ointment and bandaged, and you can go home and relax.
We are very excited to announce that we are on the move. Commencing on Thursday 2nd February, we relocate from 12 Bowen St to 92 Queen St, Waiuku. We are still operating in our old location in the meantime, and for those clients with appointments from 7th February onwards, we will see you in the new clinic.
The premises have a history of being the Waiuku Medical Centre, so we will feel right at home in them. New signage is going up as we write this, so expect to see our notices and logo from a different perspective.
Cohabiting with Aurora Law- very excited.
Taping is something that gets easier the more you practice.
We have created a quick guide here for your reference. It is not a definitive guide, more of a recommendation to support a product that we absolutely love using.
Plantar Plate Taping- How to cut guide.
Plantar Plate Taping- How to apply guide.
The resources available on YouTube for Rocktape are also worth checking out.
Have fun, be creative and keep on moving.
They are pesky little things aren’t they? If you have ever wondered what they are and how to treat them, then here is some information for you.
Verruca or verrucae are a viral wart caused by an infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). A wart is very prominent and sticks out, whereas a verruca tends to become depressed into the foot as it is on a weight bearing surface.
A verruca tends to have a rough feel on the surface of the skin, may have an irregular shape and may have pinpoint blood vessels throughout the lesion. There are many different categories of verruca- some are a single lesion, others may be in a group. We have included the DermNetNZ link for more information for you. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/viral-wart
When treating verruca, we need to activate the immune response. There are several methods that the Podiatrist will discuss with you.
Spirularin Verrucae Serum is our most gentle approach and works extremely well for children and pregnant women. You can locate more information about this product here. 
Another option is the Falknor’s Needling Method. It is a surgical method and the needling technique works by stimulating the body’s immune system to clear the infected viral cells. Because the virus is confined to the top layer of the skin (epidermis), the bodies immune system may not have detected it. We try to push the virus material further into the skin to generate an inflammatory response and kickstart your immune system. The method uses a very thin needle to repeatedly puncture the wart. Over the following week, the plantar wart undergoes a natural deterioration before ultimately disappearing.
The benefits of dry needling include:
- Only one session usually required, unlike cryotherapy, silver nitrate or salicylic acid which requires multiple visits
- It is performed using local anaesthetic
- The procedure is completed simply in-clinic
- No need to take any additional time off work/school
- We monitor your progress to ensure good healing
- The reported success rates of dry needling are around 70%, compared to standard cryotherapy which is around 15%
As stated above, Local Anaesthetic will be administered to numb the region. Please discuss with your podiatrist if you wish to consider this option.
You may have been aware, or it might be news for you, but Southern Podiatry hosts AUT Podiatry students every year. It is a privilege to be involved in the development of our future professionals. And we have to say- “We love it”.
This year, we had the company of the lovely Meagan join our team for her placement. In previous years, we have had: Jess, Siona, Siliva, Ken, Sharon, Sarah- well- just to name a few.
And each time we host a student, we are grateful for our wonderful clients- yes- you- for letting them participate in your foot care. And special mention goes to those that consented to the student assisting with their surgeries. Without willing participants, our students wouldn’t have the absolute immersion experience that we thrust them into.
So, “THANK YOU” to our Students- past and present, our clients, and all those willing to continue to build on another’s learning pathway.
Podiatrists don’t just specialise in the foot. WE ARE EXPERTS in assessing lower limb biomechanics of the hip, knee and ankle as well! And this is relevant when considering knee arthritis.
# 45606557 – runner knee injury and pain
The body and in particular the leg, is a kinetic chain. Its all connected and linked. When an injury or limitation occurs in one joint, we will see compensations throughout the rest of the kinetic chain.
Yes- you heard right. Me, myself and I- Miss Treena Harris- is headed to Middlemore Hospital. I haven’t been able to confirm it until now as my placement was very late notice but joyfully accepted. But remember this- it is only a loan. I will be coming back to Southern Podiatry.
Why?
Well- it is time. You may recall that I am a Registered Nurse as well as a Podiatrist. In order to keep our qualifications and receive an annual license to work within our profession of choice (also known as practicing certificates), you need to complete time in each profession.
What else do I need to let you know? Well…….. Continue Reading
Toe Props:
– just look how many types there are! They can be made from Silicon, or felt, or various materials.
You may feel like you are swimming in an ocean of silicon, felt and ribbed sleeves when it comes to toe prop varieties.
We are often asked which devices would suit a particular foot type. It is important for our Podiatrists to assess the foot to determine which one to choose. Continue Reading
As I welcome May this year, I reflect on the last four months and my goals. The peaks I’ve climbed, the fish I’ve caught, and of course the people I’ve met. It’s been a great opportunity commencing work at Southern Podiatry and exploring the local country side of the Franklin region.
Easter have come and gone and we are now in May. It is a great time of the year to make goals and start a new routine. A foot health check may be required to help you achieve these goals.
- What fitness goals would you like to achieve?
- Do you have foot or leg pain that you wish to resolve?
- Do you have an old injury that is still playing up?
If you’ve never been to a Podiatrist and you are unsure what to expect please read on… Continue Reading