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Onychogryphosis - Nail and Distal Digit
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Onychogryphosis - Nail and Distal Digit

Contributors: Shari Lipner MD, PhD, Susan Burgin MD, Bertrand Richert MD, Robert Baran MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Onychogryphosis (sometimes called "claw nail") is a disorder of the nail that is usually acquired but may be inherited. It most commonly affects the toenails, particularly the hallux. The nail plate presents as unevenly thickened, opaque, elongated, increased in curvature, often yellow-brown in color, and can show superficial transverse striations. The thickened nail can also be severely distorted and laterally displaced, giving it a shape like a ram's horn, causing pain and interfering with footwear and ambulation.

In the elderly population, the nail dystrophy is usually caused by microtrauma from poor-fitting footwear but is also seen with impairment of the peripheral vascularization, stasis dermatitis, onychomycosis, self-neglect, and orthopedic deformities such as hallux valgus and erectus.

Onychogryphosis may also be associated with injury to the matrix in patients with psoriasis or ichthyosis, diseases of the central nervous system, hyperuricemia, and impairment of the peripheral circulation.

Hereditary onychogryphosis has been rarely described. All the nails of both hands and feet may be involved. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Onychogryphosis has also been described as a feature of Haim-Munk syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome, ichthyosis hystrix, and ectodermal dysplasia-syndactyly syndrome type 1.

Codes

ICD10CM:
L60.2 – Onychogryphosis

SNOMEDCT:
52897009 – Onychogryposis

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Last Reviewed:07/02/2018
Last Updated:05/19/2024
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Onychogryphosis - Nail and Distal Digit
A medical illustration showing key findings of Onychogryphosis : Toenails, Nail thickening
Clinical image of Onychogryphosis - imageId=2696890. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A markedly thickened, elongated, brown, horn-like great toenail with an abnormal curvature. Note earlier similar changes of the second toenail.'
A markedly thickened, elongated, brown, horn-like great toenail with an abnormal curvature. Note earlier similar changes of the second toenail.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.