What is onychogryphosis?
Onychogryphosis, also known as ram’s horn nail, is a nail disorder resulting from slow nail plate growth. It is characterised by an opaque, yellow-brown thickening of the nail plate with elongation and increased curvature [1,2].
Who gets onychogryphosis?
There have been a few reports of congenital onychogryphosis, and onychogryphosis can be seen in a number of rare genodermatoses.
Acquired onychogryphosis is more common [1]. It is more often observed in older people, people with poor personal care, and patients with senile dementia [1–3].
What causes onychogryphosis?
The exact cause of onychogryphosis is not completely known.
It is associated with:
- Skin diseases such as ichthyosis, psoriasis, pemphigus, tertiary syphilis, hyperuricaemia (the cause of gout), and, in the past, smallpox
- Poor peripheral circulation, which may be associated with diabetes mellitus
- Traumatic injury to the nail bed
- Microtrauma due to poorly fitting shoes
- Hallux valgus (bunion) [1].
In onychogryphosis, the nail plate becomes hypertrophied …
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