Nail Surgery: General Principles, Fundamental Techniques, and Practical Applications

Despite being an integral part of dermatologic surgery, nail surgery is infrequently performed in daily practice. Indeed, it is frequently considered difficult, time-consuming, and the results take a long time to be observed. Nonetheless, nail pathology is a frequent cause of dermatology consultation, so dermatologists should be familiar with its diagnosis and therapeutic approach, which often involves surgical procedures. This article provides a review of nail surgery, focusing on the anatomy of this region, anesthesia of the ungual apparatus, common surgical techniques, reconstruction of defects in these locations, and a general approach to the most frequently encountered conditions in clinical practice.