Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients undergoing nail avulsion surgery for dystrophic nails
W Y Lai1, William Y M Tang, Steven K F Loo
1Manor Lakes Medical Centre, Cnr Ballan Road & Manor Lakes Blvd, Wyndham Vale, VIC 3024, Australia. drlaiwingyiu@yahoo.com.hk
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients undergoing surgical nail avulsion.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Two dermatology centres in Hong Kong.
Patients:
A total of 32 patients with nail diseases who underwent 33 nail avulsion procedures were reviewed from case records.
Main Outcome Measures:
Age, gender, co-morbidities, disease duration, clinical features, histopathology and fungal culture of nail plate, nail bed specimen for fungal culture in appropriate cases, and postoperative outcome.
Results:
The mean age of the patients at the time of nail avulsion was 54 (range, 27-86) years. The most frequent preoperative findings were thickened nails (23 specimens, 70%) and discolouration (20 specimens, 61%). Onychomycosis was the most common pre-consultative diagnosis (20 specimens, 61%). Prior to nail avulsion, topical or systemic treatment had been tried in more than half of the cases. Histopathology of the avulsed nails confirmed onychomycosis in 24 (73%) of specimens. The clinical cure rate was 88% and the mycologic cure rate was 100%. The procedure was well tolerated without significant complications. Relapse was only noted in three (9%) of the patients having nail avulsions. The time for full re-growth ranged from 5 to 10 months.
Conclusions:
Total nail avulsion is an effective management option for patients whose diagnosis of onychomycosis was doubtful, and constitutes a treatment armamentarium especially for patients with single or oligo-onychomycosis.
