The podiatry nail surgery service assesses and surgically treats nail conditions for people in Newcastle. Through surgery, we aim to resolve chronic and acute toenail problems not related to footwear.
Conditions we treat
We treat a wide range of conditions affecting the nails, including:
- Ingrowing (involuted) toenails
- Infected ingrowing toenails
- Fungal infected toenails
- Damaged toenails
- Thickened toenails.
Services we offer
Our nail surgery service involves the removal of infected and damaged toenails through surgery under local anaesthetic.
Benfield Park Healthcare Centre
Surgery takes place at the Benfield Park Healthcare Centre
Monday and Thursday – 8.30am – 4pm
Treatment
Low risk
If you are assessed as a low risk, you will be asked to phone us.
We will explain the surgical procedure and give you an appointment for the surgery. In addition, we will give you more information about the procedure and what to do before surgery.
Higher risk
If you are assessed as having a higher-risk or the information we receive about your condition is unclear, we will invite you to an appointment to discuss your needs.
Diabetic patients
If you are diabetic, we ask your GP to provide evidence of your diabetes control before surgery (HBA1C).
We may also ask you to attend the Newcastle Diabetes Centre to see the consultant who will decide whether surgery is the best option, and where it can be carried out.
Hospital treatment
When the surgery can’t be done in a local clinic, we will ask your GP to refer you to hospital.
Procedure
Nail surgery is a straightforward procedure. After we assess you, and receive your written consent to go ahead.
You will have an injection of a local anaesthetic into the affected area. This makes sure surgery will be pain-free. The appointment lasts around 45 minutes, but the procedure takes about 20 minutes.
The two main procedures carried out are:
- Partial nail avulsion (removal): the side or sides of a nail only are removed
- Total nail avulsion (removal): the whole nail is removed
After this, the surgeon applies a chemical called phenol to limit the chance of the nail re-growing. A sterile dressing is then applied.
You can find out more about nail surgery.
Aftercare
Your local GP practice nurse carries out most of the care after surgery, re-dressing wounds until they heal.
If you are diabetic you may be asked to attend a local community clinic for re-dressing.
It normally takes six weeks for a partial nail removal to heal, and eight weeks for a total nail removal.
How to access our services
Your GP can refer you to the nail surgery service. For nail surgery, your GP can book through choose and book.
Contact us
For more details about the community podiatry service, please contact:
Email: newcastle.communitypodiatry@nhs.net
Tel: 0191 282 3334
