Introduction
The local anaesthetic you have
been given may last a few hours
following the surgery. Once this
wears off, take whatever
painkiller you would usually take
for a headache if you feel it
necessary (e.g. paracetamol,
ibuprofen).
Do not take any pain relief
medication that contains
aspirin.
Care of your wound
If there is some bleeding through
the dressing, do not worry. It is
quite normal for there to be a little
staining. However, if there seems
to be a lot, place an extra
dressing over the existing
bandage to provide another
absorbent layer.
Keep the area dry for 2 days.
After that you may follow your
usual bathing routine but keep
the dressing on. This will prevent
soap from getting into the wound.
Immediately following your bath
or shower remove the dressing
and bathe your toes with warm
(not hot) salt-water.
It is important that the water is no
warmer than skin temperature or
there is a risk of scalding the foot or
the toes.
• Bathe the toes for 5 minutes,
then using the sterile swabs
provided gently cleanse the
area, and then dry it.
• Do not probe or poke around
the wound with your fingers.
• Once the toe is dry you can
redress it with a clean dry
dressing. Then cover the
dressing with bandage or tape
as shown by the Podiatrist
when you had your surgery.
The podiatrist may alter this routine
according to how your toe is healing.
• The toe may feel
uncomfortable and possibly
tender.
• There will be some redness
and maybe blistering at the
base of the nail near the site of
the wound. This is usually a
reaction to the chemical that
has been put onto your toe to
destroy the nail cells, in order
to stop that part that was
removed from growing again.
• There will also be
some weeping from the
wound, which will be pale,
yellowish and watery.
If the toe becomes extremely
painful and starts to throb with the
redness spreading further down
the toe towards the foot, this may
mean the wound has become
infected. You will need to see
your doctor to obtain some
antibiotics.
At this point please contact the
clinic where you had your nail
surgery or the booking centre on
01625 661875
Infection following surgery does
not happen very often. However,
it is important that you continue
with the dressing routine as
advised by the podiatrist.
Any information given in this
leaflet is a guideline as to what
may possibly happen so that you
are aware of what to look out for
whilst you are redressing your
toe.
We will give you a dressing
appointment at the clinic within a
week of your surgery.
This is so we can monitor the
healing process.
It may be that you will have a few
more dressing appointments
depending upon the progress your
toe is making.
Your first dressing appointment is
shown on the front of this advice
sheet.
Comments, compliments or
complaints We welcome any
suggestions you have about the quality
of our care and our services. Contact
us: Freephone:
0800
1613997 Phone:
01625
661449
Textphone:
01625
663723Customer Care, Reception,
Macclesfield District General Hospital,
Victoria Road, SK10 3BL For large
References:
Nail surgery
Author: Haneke, K.
Citation: Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2011 SepDec; 4(3): 163–164
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC3263124/
print, audio, Braille version or
translation contact the
Communications and Engagement
Team on 0800 195 494.
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please be aware that you do so at your own risk
NHS Direct (part of NHS
Choices) is a 24 hr phone
advice service providing
confidential health advice
and information. Phone:
0845 4647
(Textphone 0845 606 46
47)www.nhs.uk
East Cheshire NHS Trust is
committed to ensuring that
patients and staff will always
be treated with dignity and
respect. There will be no age,
disability, gender, race,
sexual orientation or
religious discrimination.
Advice Following
Nail Surgery
Patient Information
Podiatry Service
01625 661875
Your first dressing appointment
will be: ______________
At_________________________
www.eastcheshire.nhs.uk
@eastcheshirenhs
Ref:11494Review: 10/2015