Nail Bracing

Normally the nail braces are suitable for everyone with in-grown or rolled nails. Even babies and small children can be treated with special children’s braces. However, nail bracing is not recommended if you:

• Play kicking sports such as soccer or AFL.
• Want to wear pointed high heels or tight fitting ballet flats during treatment.
• Have a fungal infection that is affecting the strength or integrity of the nail edge.

Usually yes – the brace therapy has been accepted as a pain-free method of treatment for in-grown toenails – a great advantage for children and diabetics.

We do our utmost best to select the right toenail condition that would benefit from bracing, in some rare cases, nail bracing may not achieve the desired outcome. Toenail surgery may be suggested should the ingrown toenail condition not fully resolve or return following a treatment period of bracing.

One can hardly feel the placing of the brace, except perhaps contact with the skin when the surrounding tissue is inflamed. Local anesthetic is NOT necessary during the application process. In fact, most patients feel relief after activation of the brace.

A nail brace will not hinder you. You can play sport as usual, whether in water or on land. We advise you to avoid sport only if the toe is highly inflamed and wait until it has healed. Those indulging in high-performance sports should let us know beforehand.

The brace remains securely on the nail in water – whether in a pool, sauna or bathtub – but should not be in excess of 30 minutes and a bandaid should be applied for extra support.

Each case is different. The brace remains on the nail and grows out with it. Depending on the case it will be removed and reapplied at regular intervals over a period between 3 to 12 months. The brace does not interfere with daily life and all sporting and working activities can be continued.

The cost depends on the difficulty of the treatment and its duration. Sometimes the treatment is paid for by Medical Insurance. We will discuss fees with you once we assess your toenail and your needs.

Yes, you can paint over the brace if desired without affecting the brace.

A number of health funds provide rebates for nail bracing – check with your fund if you’re covered. We have HICAPS facilities so are able to offer on-the-spot rebates.

If you qualify for an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program arranged by your GP, a portion of the associated costs may be covered by Medicare (up to a maximum of $280 per year).