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Ingrowing Nail M001

Document
Last amended 
14 September 2015

In this section

Current RMA Instruments:

Reasonable Hypothesis SOP
106 of 2015
Balance of Probabilities SOP
107 of 2015
Changes from Previous Instruments:

SOP Bulletin 185

ICD coding:

ICD-9-CM:       703.0

ICD-10-AM:    L60.0

Brief description:

This is a disease where the nail of a toe or finger penetrates the soft tissues surrounding the nail, leading to inflammation. 

Confirming the diagnosis:

To confirm the diagnosis there needs to be evidence of clinical signs of an ingrowing nail.

The relevant medical specialist is a general surgeon or dermatologist. Specialist opinion will generally not be required.

Clinical onset

The clinical onset will be based on self-report.  The condition can affect different nails and occur episodically, so onset will be when the current episode first manifest in the affected nail, rather than at the time of any earlier resolved episode in the same or another nail. 

Clinical worsening

When considering any issues concerning possible clinical worsening, it is important to ascertain whether the clinical worsening is out of keeping with the natural history of the underlying pathology.

In the case of ingrowing nails, the condition has a tendency to be chronic with episodic flare ups.

The appropriate treatment is to relieve the causal factor, and if necessary excise the segment of the nail which is prone to ingrowing.

Comments on SOP factors

Wearing ill-fitting footwear factor: Ill-fitting footwear is defined and indicates footwear that is too small for the foot, rather than footwear that is too large for the foot.

Hyperhidrosis of the feet: This is abnormal increased sweating of the feet.