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Congenital ingrown toenails: clinical significance
Insights
Newborn great toenail shape in infants was studied to see if it caused chronic paronychia. Researchers found that apparent toenail obstructions were normal developmental variations and did not lead to paronychia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Chronic paronychia is an inflammatory condition affecting the nail folds.
- Congenital nail abnormalities in newborns can sometimes be associated with various health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a specific great toenail conformation in newborns.
- To determine if this conformation predisposes infants to developing chronic paronychia.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of great toenails in 302 newborn infants.
- Longitudinal follow-up of 41 infants with noted toenail tissue impedance for 12 months.
Main Results:
- All infants followed up had normal-appearing nails by six months of age.
- None of the infants developed chronic paronychia during the 12-month follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- The initially observed great toenail conformations were likely normal variations in infant nail development.
- These variations do not appear to predispose infants to chronic paronychia.
Abstract:
The great toenails of 302 newborn infants were evaluated to identify a specific conformation which might predispose these children to chronic paronychia. Forty-one infants who appeared to have great toenails impeded by tissue distally were followed for 12 months. All had essentially normal appearing nails by six months of age. None developed chronic paronychia. The results suggest that the changes originally noted were variations in the normal development of the great toenail.