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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

An Anatomical Study of Nerves at Risk During Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Surgery
Published on: February 17, 2018
Incomplete development of the nail of the hallux in the newborn
Antonella Milano1, Mario Cutrone, Nicola Laforgia
1Unit of Paediatric Dermatology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Abstract:
Between March and October 2008, the nails of 541 (252 females, 289 males) consecutively born neonates with an average age of 3.2 days were examined in the Neonatology Unit. Of these newborns with nail disorders, 36 were re-examined after a period that ranged from seven days to six months. The most frequent nail alteration was the incomplete development of the hallux nail, which was triangular - sometimes trapezoidal - shaped. This alteration, which had been previously reported in the literature as congenital hypertrophy of the lateral folds of the hallux, spontaneously regressed within one to three months in the infants re-examined. There was no associated inflammation or onychocryptosis at any time. The apparent hypertrophy of the nail folds seemed to be secondary to the lack of pressure of the nail lamina.
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