What is a Fingernail or Toenail Removal
An injury, accident, or medical condition may require your health care provider to remove the nail on a finger or toe. Removal of a nail may be necessary when the nail is ingrown, infected, or damaged, or when it has not grown properly.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Pain.
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Allergic reactions to medicines.
- The nail growing back improperly.
What happens before the procedure?
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
What happens during the procedure?
- An IV tube may be inserted into one of your veins.
- You
will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine that helps you relax (sedative).
- A medicine that numbs the area (local anesthetic).
- An instrument will be inserted underneath the nail to lift it up.
- A cut (incision) may be made in your nail.
- The nail will be removed.
- A bandage (dressing) will be put over the area where the nail was removed.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level may be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- If you had a fingernail removed, you may be given a finger splint to wear while you recover.
- If you had a toenail removed, you will be given a surgical shoe to wear while you recover.
- You may need to keep your finger or toe raised (elevated) or supported on a pillow for 24 hours or as long as told by your health care provider.
Summary
- Removal of a nail may be necessary when the nail is ingrown, infected, or damaged, or when it has not grown properly.
- Before the procedure, tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and any medical conditions you have.
- You will be given medicine to numb the area, and the nail will be removed.
- After a fingernail is removed, you will be given a finger splint to wear while you recover.
- After a toenail is removed, you will be given a surgical shoe to wear while you recover.
Fingernail or Toenail Removal, Adult, Care After
This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, it is common to have:
- Pain.
- Redness.
- Swelling.
- Soreness.
Follow these instructions at home:
- If
you have a splint:
- Do notput pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
- Wear the splint as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
- Loosen the splint if your fingers or toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
- Keep the splint clean.
- If
the splint is not waterproof:
- Do notlet it get wet.
- Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
Wound care
- Follow
instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your
wound. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
- Keep your dressing dry until your health care provider says it can be removed.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do notremove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
- Check
your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- More redness, swelling, or pain.
- More fluid or blood.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Move your fingers or toes often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
- Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down. You may need to keep your finger or toe raised or supported on a pillow for 24 hours or as told by your health care provider.
- Soak your hand or foot in warm, soapy water for 10–20 minutes, 3 times a day or as told by your health care provider.
Medicine
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, use it as told by your health care provider. Do notstop using the antibiotic even if your condition improves.
General instructions
- If you were given a shoe to wear, wear it as told by your health care provider.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have more redness, swelling, or pain around your wound.
- You have more fluid or blood coming from your wound.
- Your wound feels warm to the touch.
- You have pus or a bad smell coming from your wound.
- You have a fever.
- Your finger or toe looks blue or black.
