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[Successful therapy of retronychia]
1Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale), Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie.
Anamnesis:
We report on a 66-year-old patient who had had painful swelling of his left big toe for about 9 months with subjectively stopped growth.
Examination:
Previously, bacteriological, and mycological smears and an MRI examination had not provided any groundbreaking findings, and previous antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory therapies had not contributed to alleviating the symptoms.
Diagnosis And Therapy:
Based on the clinical findings with a reddened, piston-like distended distal phalanx with a raised proximal nail wall, we made the diagnosis of retronychia and performed a nail plate extraction.
Clinical Course:
In the follow-up checks, which lasted more than two years, the patient was symptom-free with recovered nail growth.
Conclusion:
As in the case presented, retronychia is often misdiagnosed. The knowledge of groundbreaking clinical and anamnestic parameters and the correct therapy options allows a quick, inexpensive, and long-term successful treatment.
