Nail Surgery - Treatment of Nail using Surgical Therapy

Surgical planing of nails with dental burrs is being employed to get rid of affected portions of the nail in cases of tinea unguium. The author finds this technique useful in getting quick and better results in this difficult condition and also in nail dystrophies.

Since the availability of griseofulvin, the need for nail surgery in the treatment of tinea unguium has somewhat declined. Nail resection and cauterization of lateral folds is useful in ingrowing nail. Making a hole in the nail plate with dental burr is practised to differentiate haematoma from a melanoma. Histopathological examination of nail disorders can be conducted by taking a biopsy of nail plate and underlying tissues.