Retronychia a little‐known cause of paronychia: A report of two cases in adolescent patients

Retronychia is a clinical condition resulting from embedding of the nail plate into the proximal nail fold. We report two adolescent girls, 14 and 16 years of age, with a history of chronic proximal paronychia of the great toe, one of them developing osteomyelitis. After failure of treatment with several systemic antibiotics, nail avulsion was performed, leading us to the diagnosis of retronychia and with rapid and complete resolution of symptoms in both cases. Delay in diagnosis of retronychia can lead to local complications and prolonged discomfort.     

Swelling of the proximal nail fold caused by underlying warts.

We report on 2 cases of patients with warts underlying the proximal nail fold which presented as tender erythematous nodules. The remarkable feature in both cases was a significant oedema of the proximal nail fold, resembling a reaction to a foreign body. One patient responded well to mild keratolytic treatment. The second patient was treated surgically with crescentic excision of the distal portion of the proximal nail fold. It is important to recognise this tumour variant in order to avoid unnecessary or excessive intervention.     

Familial median canaliform nail dystrophy

Median canaliform nail dystrophy typically appears as a central nail groove, beginning at or distal to the proximal nail fold, from which small lateral fissures may be found. Although the onset of this nail dystrophy has occasionally been associated with either prior local trauma or the initiation of treatment with isotretinoin, the etiology of this condition remains elusive for most affected individuals. We describe a man with median canaliform nail dystrophy whose brother and mother had the same nail dystrophy, review the other reported cases, and discuss the differential diagnosis of this nail disorder.     

Treatment of common nail disorders

Treatment of nail diseases is not always easy; topical treatment is often ineffective because the nail plate is not penetrated by topical drugs, and the nail matrix is located under the proximal nail fold. The most frequent nail disorders are nail psoriasis and onychomycosis. In these cases, systemic treatment is often necessary to cure the nail changes. Systemic treatment with steroids is mandatory for patients with nail lichen planus because the disease may cause definitive destruction of the nail matrix. Environmental nail abnormalities are frequent and include nail brittleness, onycholysis, and chronic paronychia. Preventive measures should always be associated with treatment in these cases.     

Management of Chronic Paronychia

Chronic paronychia is an inflammatory disorder of the nail folds of a toe or finger presenting as redness, tenderness, and swelling. It is recalcitrant dermatoses seen commonly in housewives and housemaids. It is a multifactorial inflammatory reaction of the proximal nail fold to irritants and allergens. Repeated bouts of inflammation lead to fibrosis of proximal nail fold with poor generation of cuticle, which in turn exposes the nail further to irritants and allergens. Thus, general preventive measures form cornerstone of the therapy. Though previously anti-fungals were the mainstay of therapy, topical steroid creams have been found to be more effective in the treatment of chronic paronychia. In recalcitrant cases, surgical treatment may be resorted to, which includes en bloc excision of the proximal nail fold or an eponychial marsupialization, with or without nail plate removal. Newer therapies and surgical modalities are being employed in the management of chronic paronychia. In this overview, we review recent epidemiological studies, present current thinking on the pathophysiology leading to chronic paronychia, discuss the challenges chronic paronychia presents, and recommend a commonsense approach to management.     

Efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide in various acquired nail dystrophies

The treatment of nail disorders is currently an unsatisfying exercise. Isolated nail involvement generally does not warrant any systemic therapy. At the same time, treatment is requested because of significant cosmetic and functional handicap. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the proximal nail fold was evaluated as a treatment modality in 30 patients with twenty-nail dystrophy, 14 with nail lichen planus, and 6 with nail psoriasis. The number of involved nails varied from 1-20, and 1-10 nails were treated with TA. Fourteen patients discontinued treatment after 1-2 sittings. Out of the 28 patients completing the treatment protocol, 16 showed 75-100% improvement. Predominant side effects included pain, subungual hematoma formation, proximal nail fold hypopigmentation, and atrophy. TA given as a single injection in the proximal nail fold produced good improvement in a significant number of patients completing the treatment protocol. Lower concentrations of TA (5 mg/ml) were quite effective in treating various dermatoses affecting the nail unit. Our technique had fewer side effects than needle-less injection or multiple injection techniques. Careful attention to injection technique further minimized the side effects associated with the procedure. Sixteen patients completed the six-month follow-up and a relapse of nail changes was seen in 10. The relapses were equally responsive to retreatment. TA injected into the proximal nail fold area is a useful, cheap and efficacious treatment for dermatoses affecting the nail unit.     

“Chemical” surgery in treating basal cell carcinoma in elderly

The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been increasing in the last decades due to population aging and precise diagnosis. The difficulty that physicians face frequently is related to the treatment decision for BCC; when treating BCC, correct and personalized choices must be taken into consideration by selecting from a large variety of therapeutic options such as: surgical excision (“the golden standard therapy”), electrodessication, cryosurgery, radiation therapy, laser, photodynamic therapy, curettage, topical treatment (imiquimod, 5‐fluorouracil, vismodegib), or combining different treatments. The present authors present series of cases of patients diagnosed with BCC, highlighting that “chemical surgery” using 70% trichloroacetic acid could be a valuable option in the treatment of nonaggressive BCC of the face.     

Onycomycosis due to artificial nails

Background  The use of artificial nails (ANs) as part of nail-care cosmetics is very popular. Several side effects and complications, such as contact dermatitis and bacterial and fungal infections, have been reported in patients using ANs.
Objective  The purpose of this study was to identify the fungal pathogens in nail abnormalities appearing in patients with ANs.
Methods  We evaluated 68 patients suffering from nail changes and paronychia, which appear after removal of ANs. Mycological samples were obtained from two sites: distal parts of the involved nail and the proximal nail fold. KOH examination and fungal culture were used for detection and identification of fungal infection.
Results  Mycological results from the distal part of the nail showed positive KOH test in 57 cases (83.8%), and culture was positive in 67 patients (98.5%). Mycological results obtained from the proximal nail fold showed positive KOH test in 36 patients (52.9%); in 36 of the cases, culture was positive. Candida spp. were the most common pathogen. Both KOH and culture results were significantly better while sampling from the distal part of the nail compared with sampling from the proximal nail fold ( P =  0.0001).
Conclusion  Onychomycosis was found to be very common in nail changes due to ANs, leading to an increased risk of transmitting microbial infections. Therefore, health care personnel and workers in the food industry should avoid using ANs.     

Vertically growing ectopic nail

A 64-year-old Japanese woman with an ectopic nail at the palmar tip of the left middle finger is reported. Interestingly, the nail grew vertically to a line horizontal to the surface epidermis. Atypically, it appeared at 60 years of age with no prior injury or trauma to explain inoculation of a nail matrix into the regional skin. Roentgenographically, there were no abnormal findings such as Y-shaped bifurcation of the distal phalanx of the affected finger. There are conflicting opinions concerning whether or not a proximal nail fold is critical for the nail to grow outward instead of upward. Although the present case had a wide proximal nail fold, it did not seem to play its role of compressing and assisting the nail plate to grow outward. Hence, it may be that the absence of a proper nail bed, rather than the absence of a proximal nail fold, promotes upward growth of a nail plate instead of outward growth.     

Retronychia: report of two cases

Retronychia is an incomplete form of nail shedding that leads to embedding of the nail into the proximal nail fold and subsequent inflammation. Patients present with persistent paronychia in the setting of disrupted nail growth. Other nail changes may be present. Simple avulsion is curative, and unlike other forms of ingrown nails, it does not tend to recur. We report 2 cases of retronychia that were associated with distal onycholysis and subungual hematoma, respectively. Both were successfully treated with nail avulsion.     

Risk factors,clinical variants and therapeutic outcome of retronychia: a retrospective study of 18 patients

Background

Retronychia is a form of post-traumatic ingrowing nail disease that involves proximal nail plate embedding into the proximal nail fold, with multiple generations of nail plate beneath the proximal nail. This disease is probably underdiagnosed because of incomplete clinical forms.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to report clinical and aetiological variants of retronychia and to evaluate their therapeutic outcome.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective review was performed on 18 patients who were seen in our institution between 2007 and 2013. The diagnostic criteria for retronychia were paronychia and interruption of nail growth.

Results

A female predominance (83.3%) was reported. Various precipitating factors were found, including traumatisms in 10 patients (55%), pregnancy and postpartum period in two patients (11%), and compartment syndrome in one patient (5%). The mean duration of paronychia was eight months (15 days to four years). The fingers most affected were the great toes. Retronychia occurred bilaterally in five cases (27%) and unilaterally in one case (61%). The commonest signs were, in decreasing order, xanthonychia (yellow discolouration of nail plate), longitudinal nail over-curvature, swelling of proximal nail fold, elevation of the proximal nail plate, granulation tissue, subungual hyperkeratosis, superficial leuconychia, distal onycholysis, subungueal haemorrhage, and Beau’s lines. Most of the cases improved after proximal nail plate avulsion. Recurrence occurred in three cases (16.6%).

Conclusion

In our opinion, ischaemic damage is the main cause of retronychia. Evaluation of clinical variants is mandatory to propose appropriate treatment. The limitations of this study include the retrospective design.

     

Retronychia

Retronychia is a recently described disorder caused by ingrowth of the proximal nail plate into the proximal nail fold. It is suspected when there is persistent paronychia, particularly in the setting of trauma. This disease is probably underdiagnosed due to limited knowledge among dermatologists and the presence of incomplete clinical forms. Nail plate avulsion is the diagnostic and curative procedure of choice, despite reports of relapse.     

Could proximal white subungual onychomycosis be a complication of systemic spread? The lessons to be learned from Maladie Dermatophytique and other deep infections

There are several published cases where dermatophyte infections have spread systemically, resulting in widespread internal dissemination as well as spread to local lymphatics and lymph nodes. The best example is provided by the condition known as Maladie Dermatophytique. In this commentary the arguments are discussed for a potential role of lymphatic dissemination in the development of proximal white subungual onychomycosis, where invasion of the nail plate by fungi proceeds from the proximal nail fold.     

Lichen Nitidus Presenting with Nail Changes—Case Report and Review of the Literature

Lichen nitidus of the nail is rare and can precede the onset of skin lesions. Delayed diagnosis is common. We present an unusual case of lichen nitidus–associated nail changes that preceded the onset of skin lesions in a 4‐year‐old Indian girl. We also conduct a review of six other cases of lichen nitidus with nail involvement from the English‐language literature. Clues to the diagnosis of lichen nitidus include violaceous or pigmentary changes of the nail fold and subtle lichenoid papules on the affected digits. Lichen nitidus of the nails appears to be less severe than nail changes of lichen planus and is generally self‐limiting. Understanding the natural history of lichen nitidus of the nails will help physicians better counsel patients and their families.     

Spontaneous Regression of a Nail Matrix Melanocytic Nevus in a Child

A 14‐year‐old Hispanic boy presented with a 0.25‐mm wide, sharply demarcated, dark brown band of longitudinal melanonychia of the left thumbnail. A clinical diagnosis of nail matrix nevus was made and the boy was scheduled for follow‐up. The band showed proximal fading after 6 months and had completely faded after 11 months, with the proximal nail fold showing small dark brown dots on dermoscopy. We documented the spontaneous regression of melanonychia over 11 months.     

Dermoscopic detection of nail fold capillary abnormality in patients with systemic sclerosis

The diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is often difficult. The purpose of the present study was to find the distribution of nail fold capillary abnormality in SSc. Sixty-two patients with SSc (male : female = 7:55, age 21-86 years, mean 60.1) admitted to the outpatient clinics were studied. Eighteen age- and sex-matched normal subjects, 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 10 with dermatomyositis (DM) were also studied. Nail fold capillary loops were observed under immersion oil at a magnification of ×40 with a light microscope. Dilated capillaries, nail fold bleeding and avascular areas were found by dermoscopic observation. The distribution of dilated capillaries, nail fold bleeding and avascular areas in normal controls showed in one (5.6%), one (5.6%) and four cases (22.2%), respectively. The distribution of dilated capillaries, nail fold bleeding and avascular area in SSc patients showed in 27 cases (43.5%), eight cases (12.9%) and 16 cases (25.8%), respectively. The distribution of dilated capillaries and/or nail fold bleeding in SSc patients (29/62, 46.8%) was significantly elevated than that of normal controls (2/18, 11.1%) (P < 0.01). The distribution of overall abnormality in SSc (30/62, 48.4%) showed no significant difference compared with that of normal controls (4/18, 22.2%). Sensitivity and specificity for dilated capillaries and/or nail fold bleeding and overall nail fold abnormality in SSc patients compared with normal controls was calculated as 40.8% and 93.5%, 34.8% and 88.2%, respectively. Dermoscopic observation of dilated capillaries and/or nail fold bleeding is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of SSc.     

部分甲基质切除甲沟重建治疗嵌甲

目的研究1种利用甲侧襞皮瓣改变甲体与甲沟的位置结构,从而彻底治愈嵌甲的手术方法。方法切除部分甲体、甲床,并利用甲侧襞皮瓣重建甲床、甲沟、甲侧襞联合结构。结果2000年1月～2003年5月对158 例嵌甲患者,足趾209、手指3,共276侧嵌甲进行甲沟重建手术。随访6月～2年,效果满意。结论该手术从根本上治愈嵌甲,且并发症少,复发率极低。     

Lichen Planus Limited to the Nails in Childhood: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract: Although nail abnormalities have been reported to occur in 1% to 10% of patients with lichen planus, in children with lichen planus they are rarely mentioned in the literature. An 11-year-old boy had a two-month history of naii dystrophy affecting all the fingernails and the great toenaiis. The naii plates showed longitudinal ridging and thinning as well as onycholysis and distal splitting. There were no cutaneous or mucous membrane abnormalities. A nail biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, and acanthosis in the ventral portion of the proximal nail fold and in the nail matrix. A bandlike lymphocytic infiltrate was present in the superficial dermis, and the basal iayer showed vacuolar alterations. A diagnosis of iichen planus was made. Treatment was intramuscular triamcinolone 20 mg once a month for six months. Since 1969 only 13 proved pediatric cases of lichen planus limited to the nails have been reported, including two children with 20-nall dystrophy and four with idiopathic atrophy of the nails.     

The morphology and hardness of the nail in two cases of congenital onychoheterotopia

Two cases of congenital onychoheterotopia (ectopic nail) are described. In the first case electron microscopy showed spherical keratohyalin granules, and cytoplasmic desmosomes were seen in the keratinocytes of the nail matrix. The ectopic nail differed from the normal nail in the widening of the angle between the nail matrix and proximal nail fold, and in its radial growth to the skin surface. In the second case, clippings of the ectopic nail were taken and their hardness proved to be very similar to that of normal nails.     

The clinical and histopathologic spectrum of “dermal hypersensitivity reactions,” a nonspecific histologic diagnosis that is not very useful in clinical practice, and the concept of a “dermal hypersensitivity reaction pattern”

Background: “Dermal hypersensitivity reaction” (DHR) is diagnosed by dermatopathologists but is not an accepted clinical disease entity. There are no clear guidelines for its diagnosis, differential diagnosis, or management. Objectives: The objectives were to define the histologic criteria for cases histologically diagnosed as DHR and identify corresponding clinical disorders. Methods: Skin biopsy specimens from 130 patients diagnosed as “consistent with DHR” were reviewed. Additional information was obtained from patients, their dermatologists, and medical records. Results: Follow-up in 74 of 110 patients (median, 26.6 mo) revealed, most commonly, diagnoses of urticaria, drug reactions, and spongiotic (eczematous) dermatitis. Among the remaining cases, 37 of 59 reported persistence of disease, some exhibiting a uniform phenotype characterized by excoriated, edematous papules on the trunk. Histopathologic features present in more than 90% of 143 biopsy specimens included superficial and mid-perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates with eosinophils. Conclusion: DHR is a perivascular lymphocytic dermatitis with eosinophils involving the papillary and upper reticular dermis and minimal, if any, primary epidermal alteration. The term DHR does not represent any known clinical disorder; rather, it corresponds to many clinical disorders. The use of the phrase “dermal hypersensitivity reaction pattern” may be helpful in conveying the idea that a particular histologic pattern may be seen in a number of clinical disorders. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:898-907.)