NAIL SURGERY - AN ASSESSMENT OF INDICATIONS AND OUTCOME

To examine the merits of nail surgery, we studied the surgical investi gation, treatment and the outcome of 78 consecutive patients,vith nail pathology in the context of their complaint. A diagnosis was reached in 74/78 patients. Thirty-six out of seventy-eight (46%) of patients h ad tumours, 17/78 (22%) had a dermatosis, 21/78 (27%) had infection or trauma and 4/78 (5%) remained undiagnosed. The presenting complaint w as treated with substantial or complete resolution in 66/78 (87%) pati ents, Ninety-seven per cent (35/36) of those with tumours were cured, including all 5/36 with malignant and dysplastic tumours. Post-operati ve splitting of the nail was seen in only one patient due to secondary infection of a longitudinal nail unit biopsy. Information from this s tudy demonstrates the diagnostic and therapeutic value of nail surgery within dermatology.