Simple operative management of ingrown toenail using bipolar diathermy

Ingrowing toenails (IGTN) cause significant discomfort for children and adults alike. Where conservative treatment fails, a surgical approach is usually adopted. Many surgical procedures have been described with varying complexity and outcome. We report a novel, simple technique which involves wedge excision of the ingrowing nail, and bipolar diathermy of the nail bed. Three-hundred and fifty-three procedures were carried out on 302 patients during the study period. Our re-operation rate for recurrence is 9.9%, which compares favourably with other techniques, and which lends itself to utilisation for minor surgery lists in primary care.