Comprehensive approach to pincer nail deformity: etiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47196/r31z1j17Keywords:
pincer nail deformity, unguis contringensAbstract
Pincer nail deformity is an onychopathy characterized by the transverse overcurvature of the nail, causing clamping of the nail bed. The first toe is the most frequently affected. This condition may be associated with mild to severe pain and thickening of the nail plate, making it difficult to trim. Its treatment depends on the degree of severity and may be either conservative or surgical, particularly when pain and inflammation are present.
References
I. Cornelius CE, Shelley WB. Pincer nail syndrome. Arch Surg. 1968;96:321-322.
II. Baran R, Haneke E, Richert B. Pincer nails: definition and surgical treatment. Dermatol Surg. 2001;27:261-266.
III. Lee JI, Lee YB, Oh ST, Park HJ, Cho BK. A clinical study of 35 cases of pincer nails. Ann Dermatol. 2011;23:417-423.
IV. Chapman RS. Overcurvature of the nails: an inherited disorder. Br J Dermatol. 1973;89:317-318.
V. Greiner D, Schofer H, Milbradt R. Reversible transverse overcurvature of the nails (pincer nails) after treatment with β-blocker. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39:486-487.
VI. Failla V, Richert BJS, Nikkels AF. Pincer nails associated with pamidronate. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2011;36:305-306.
VII. Sano H, Ichioka S. Influence of mechanical forces as a part of nail configuration. Dermatology. 2012;225:210-214.
VIII. Sano H, Ogawa R. Clinical evidence for the relationship between nail configuration and mechanical forces. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2014;2:e115.
IX. Kosaka M, Kusuhara H, Mochizuki Y, Mori H, Isogai N. Morphologic study of normal, ingrown, and pincer nails. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36:31-38.
X. Parinello JF, Japour CJ, Dykyj D. Incurvated nail: does the phalanx determine nail plate shape? J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1995;85:696-698.
XI. Mahon DJ, Holland DM. The hallucal distal phalanx and transverse convexity of the nail plate: the relationship. Foot. 2000;10:59-65.
XII. Jung DJ, Kim JH, Lee HY, Kim DC, Lee SI, Kim TY. Anatomical characteristics and surgical treatments of pincer nail deformity. Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42:207-213.
XIII. Sano H, Ogawa R. A novel nonsurgical treatment for pincer nail that involves mechanical force control. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2015;3.
XIV. Di Chiacchio M, Kadunc BV, Trindade de Almeida AR, Madeira CL. Treatment of transverse overcurvature of the nail with a plastic device: measurement of response. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:1081-1084.
XV. Kim KD, Sim WY. Surgical pearl: nail plate separation and splint fixation. A new noninvasive treatment for pincer nails. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;48:791-792.
XVI. Kim JY, Park SY, Jin SP, Yoon HS, Cho S, Park HS. Quick and easy correction of a symptomatic pincer nail using a shape memory alloy device. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:1520-1526.
XVII. Yang BH, Bang CY, Byun JW, Han SH, Song HJ, Shin JH, Choi GS, In SG. A case of pincer nail treated using a shape-memory alloy. Dermatol Surg. 2011;37:1536-1538.
XVIII. Moriue T, Yoneda K, Moriue J, Matsouka Y. A simple therapeutic strategy with super elastic wire for ingrown toenails. Dermatol Surg. 2008;34:1729-1732.
XIX. Tseng JTP, Ho WT, Hsu CH, Lin MH, Li CN, Lee WR. A simple therapeutic approach to pincer nail deformity using a memory alloy: measurement of response. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:398-405.
XX. Chi SG, Song GH, Lee WJ, et al. Trichloroacetic acid matricectomy and aluminium splint fixation for the treatment of pincer nails. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36:1493-1498.
XXI. Kosaka M, Asamura S, Wada Y, et al. Pincer nails treated using zigzag nail bed flap method: results of 71 toenails. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36:506-511.
XXII. Ghaffarpour G, Tabaie SM, Ghaffarpour G. A new surgical technique for the correction of pincer-nail deformity: combination of splint and nail bed cutting. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36:2037-2041.
XXIII. Son ET, Tak MS, Song WJ. Correction of pincer nail deformity: using a vertical Z-plasty (abstract). Plast Surg. 2013;158.
XXIV. Cho YJ, Lee JH, Shin DJ, Sim WY. Correction of pincer nail deformities using a modified double Z-plasty. Dermatol Surg. 2015;41:736-740.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 On behalf of the authors. Reproduction rights: Argentine Dermatology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
El/los autor/es tranfieren todos los derechos de autor del manuscrito arriba mencionado a Dermatología Argentina en el caso de que el trabajo sea publicado. El/los autor/es declaran que el artículo es original, que no infringe ningún derecho de propiedad intelectual u otros derechos de terceros, que no se encuentra bajo consideración de otra revista y que no ha sido previamente publicado.
Le solicitamos haga click aquí para imprimir, firmar y enviar por correo postal la transferencia de los derechos de autor
