Pincer nails: a new surgical treatment.
BACKGROUND
Pincer nails are a kind of nail deformity characterized by a transverse overcurvature of the nail that increases along the longitudinal axis. Alteration of the shape of the underlying distal phalanx due to osteophyte formation at the apex may be a cause of pincer nails. This causes widening of the proximal matrix and as a result secondary torque in the distal nail plate leading to the typical appearance. Apart from conservative treatment, several surgical techniques have been proposed in the past.


METHODS
This article presents a new surgical approach in the treatment of recalcitrant pincer nails which has several distinct advantages over other methods.


RESULTS
Long-term results in six patients are presented.
Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. l.plusje@wxs.nl
L G
LG
Plusjé
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009264:Nails, Malformed / Q000601:surgery*; D014034:Toes