Surgical Nail Removal for Fungal Nail Infections

Surgical nail removal can be done for severe or returning Reference fungal nail infections Opens New Window. The entire nail (avulsion) or only part of the nail (debridement) can be removed.

Surgical nail removal can be done in a clinic or your doctor's office. Your doctor will give you an injection in the finger or toe to prevent pain. He or she will then loosen the skin around the nail (nail folds) from the nail and separate the nail from the skin by using a tool under the nail. If only part of the nail is diseased, only the diseased part is removed.

If you want to avoid future infection by preventing the nail from growing back, your doctor can destroy the nail matrix. This is accomplished by applying a chemical to the cuticle area after the nail plate is removed.

An antibiotic ointment is applied to the wound, which is then covered with gauze and tape.

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