Nail surgery

Surgery for benign nail tumor

The vast majority of tumors in the nail apparatus have a different clinical presentation and course from their equivalents on the skin. Some, such as onychomatricoma and onychopapilloma, are unique to the nail and others, such as superficial acral fibromyxoma, have a tropism for the nail apparatus. As a rule, benign lesions respect the general architecture of the nail apparatus, whereas malignant tumors are destructive. Treatment is always surgical and good knowledge of the anatomy and the procedures is mandatory in order not to induce postoperative nail dystrophy.

Onychocryptosis

Onychocryptosis is prevalent globally and most often the result of self-attempts at curing the condition in its earliest stages. Its clinical presentation is often confused with a number of osseous and soft tissue abnormalities, some of which have great import to a patient's overall welfare. Treatment consists of local and systemic care, including nail avulsion. Recurrences are reduced when some form of matricectomy is used. Matricectomy techniques vary and must be selected on the basis of caregiver and patient preference. Although the chemical matricectomy is popular, care must be exercised in selecting patients for its use.