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Ingrown Toenail surgery problems

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by Gilbertgirl23, Aug 11, 2010.


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    About 8 weeks ago, I had two ingrown toenails removed, both on my big toe. I was given antibiotics, soaked my foot twice a day, put neosporin on and wrapped it up. A week after the antibiotics, my toe started getting red and puss started coming out. It was very painful so I called the podiatrist and was prescribed a stronger antibiotic. I am now finished with that and once again my toe is red, swollen, puss is coming out, and it is very dark, almost like a bruise. I trust my podiatrist, but I am done dealing with this. I just want to know why this is happening and what is wrong with my toe.
     
  2. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    DISCLAIMER:
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    Antibiotics are not generally rated by strength, but by their killing or attenuating effect on the particular bacteria at hand. If your doctor was convinced that you had an infection, a culture and sensitivity would have been the best thing to do BEFORE but NOT AFTER antibiotics were administer. Once an antibiotic is administered, the flora is changed and culture and sensitivities are unreliable.

    But, especially if your nail procedure was a phenolization or other chemical destruction of the nail matrix, it is very common that the tissues responded in a manner which mimics an infection, and the cure in such a case is NOT antibiotics, but physically opening up of the drainage to assure good flow (something that should have been done, even if it were an infection) followed by soaks of increased length and frequency. The above is generally termed a sterile infection, which is NOT an infection at all. It is essential in such cases that the portal of drainage remain open until all of the fluid generated by the tissue reaction is expelled. If sealing over of the portal takes place while there is still fluid to be expelled, back pressure causes pain and swelling and often the appearance of an infection.

    I would judge that any podiatrist who routinely performs such procedures already knows or SHOULD know this.

    I can't say whether you have a true infection or not, but I have covered the likely possibilities.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2010
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