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Abstract: The patient, a 27-year-old male, had chronic nail fungus for 3 years and was treated by himself with nail trimming and disinfection with medication, which had a relieving effect, but the inflammation recurred and the symptoms were not treated, so he came to the clinic. After full communication with the patient, he agreed to undergo partial nail root excision with surgical medication exchange, and the patient’s chronic nail infection was cured and he recovered satisfactorily without pain, redness or swelling.
Basic information】Male, 27 years old
Disease Type】Chronic nail fungus
Hospital】Shenyang Hospital of Integrative Medicine
Date of Consultation】March 2021
Treatment plan] Partial nail root excision + regular postoperative medication change
Treatment Period】30 minutes for outpatient surgery, 1 month for regular medication change
Results】Chronic nail infection was cured and recovered satisfactorily, no more pain, redness and swelling.
I. Initial consultation
The patient reported that she has been suffering from chronic nail infection for 3 years. Initially, she did not pay attention to the depth of the toenail when she cut it, and then redness and infection appeared. I also looked for a pedicure store to trim the nail, which can provide relief, but it needs to be trimmed very frequently, which is a method of treating the symptoms but not the root cause. After talking with the patient, we agreed to the surgical method of removing part of the nail root.
II. Treatment process
Before the surgery, we clearly communicated with the patient that the surgery was to remove part of the nail root, not the whole toenail, but a small part of the toenail would not grow back later. The surgery was performed under local anesthesia and part of the nail root was removed during the surgery. The procedure was over in about 30 minutes and went very smoothly. After dressing, the patient was instructed to come in every 3 days to change the medication.
III. Treatment results
The patient followed the doctor’s instructions and came every 3 days to change the medication. At the end of 1 month, the patient had recovered very well, with no further redness, swelling or pain, and the remaining toenail did not affect the aesthetic appearance. The patient himself was satisfied with the results of the treatment and finally no longer had to endure the pain of recurring chronic nail infections.
IV. Notes
I am glad to see that the patient is free from chronic nail infection after the surgery. After partial excision of the nail root, there will be no recurrence, but it is important to change the medication every 3 days for 1 month after the surgery, to wear loose and comfortable shoes, not to squeeze the toenail as much as possible, and to pay more attention to the other toenails to see if there is a tendency of nail infection. If any discomfort during this period, do not handle it at home by yourself, but go to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid delaying the condition.
V. Personal Insights
Many patients with chronic nail infections take a chance, thinking that it is only a temporary infection, not a big problem, just spray some medicine and pay more attention to it, thus delaying the disease. It is recommended to seek medical attention in time to minimize pain. For chronic nail infection, clinicians will choose different levels of treatment depending on the severity of the condition. If it has progressed to the extent of the patient in this case, partial removal of the nail root is the best way. Therefore, it is recommended that patients go to a regular hospital and choose an experienced doctor to treat the condition with minimal cost.