From Ingrown Nail To Toe Amputation

Diabetes can have a profound effect on the foot, as readers of this blog have noted each week.  One of these effects can be severe injury following a simple grooming technique at home, and is entirely preventable if one exercises a little restraint.

People commonly trim their toenails at home, and often will 'dig' into a nail that seems ingrown.  This digging creates skin irritation along side the nail, and does little to address any ingrowth except for reducing nail corner pressure temporarily until the nail simply grows out again.  In most people, this skin irritation can lead to an infection if bacteria becomes trapped between the ingrown nail that was not cut out and the swollen, inflamed skin.  This infection can linger if untreated, and is what most people associate with a painful ingrown toenail.  Diabetics, unfortunately, have little tolerance for infections as the bacteria removal capability in place in one's immune system is hampered in diabetes.  This means that simple toe infections can spread quickly, and it also means that since the nail grows from tissue near one of the toe bones, an infection around the nail can spread easily to bone.  Most bone infections in the toes are doom them to amputation, since toe bone infections are difficult to treat simply with antibiotics, and the destructive changes seen in these infections renders the toe bone useless.

It is therefore very important for diabetics to resist the temptation to dig at their nail corners.  If an ingrown nail is suspected, or if one is absolutely present and is painful, a diabetic needs to see a podiatrist for care.  A safe and simple procedure for ingrown toenails can be performed, that will eliminate the problem and reduce the potential for a toe infection that could lead to amputation.

Until next time,
Scott R. Kilberg DPM

www.inpodiatrygroup.com - foot surgeon, podiatrist in Indianapolis
myachingfoot.blogspot.com -  foot pain explained
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A foot doctor in Indianapolis Noblesville Fishers Carmel Westfield and Fortville Indiana.