Onychogryphosis

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Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Onychogryphosis
Onychogryphosis affecting the toenails
Synonyms	Ram's horn nails
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Dermatology
Symptoms	Thickened, curved nails
Complications	Pain, difficulty in walking
Onset	Gradual
Duration	Long-term
Types	N/A
Causes	Trauma, neglect, fungal infection, peripheral vascular disease
Risks	Elderly, poor hygiene, diabetes
Diagnosis	Physical examination, nail biopsy
Differential diagnosis	Onychomycosis, psoriasis, eczema
Prevention	Proper foot care, regular nail trimming
Treatment	Nail debridement, surgery, topical treatments
Medication	Antifungal agents if fungal infection is present
Prognosis	Good with treatment
Frequency	Common in elderly
Deaths	N/A

Onychogryphosis

Ram's horn toenails on a bedridden patient

Onychogryphosis (also known as "Ram's Horn Nails") is a disease that affects the nails, causing them to thicken and curve, resembling the horn of a ram. This condition can affect both the fingernails and toenails, but is more commonly seen in the toenails.

Causes

Onychogryphosis can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Trauma to the nail bed
• Infections, such as fungal infections
• Aging
• Poor circulation
• Genetic predisposition

Symptoms

The main symptom of onychogryphosis is the thickening and curving of the nails. Other symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Difficulty in walking (if the toenails are affected)
• Difficulty in using the hands (if the fingernails are affected)
• Inflammation of the surrounding skin

Treatment

Treatment for onychogryphosis may include:

• Regular trimming of the nails
• Podiatry care
• Antifungal medication (if a fungal infection is present)
• Surgery to remove the affected nail

See also

• Nail disease
• Onychomycosis
• Onycholysis