Onychocryptosis complicated with osteomyelitis – A case report from tertiary wound care center in South India

Abstract

I ngrown toenails or onychocryptosis occur when the periungual skin is punctured by its corresponding nail plate, resulting in a cascade of foreign body, inflammatory, infectious, and reparative processes [1]. This may result in a painful, draining, and foul-smelling lesion of the involved toe (most commonly, the hallux nail), with soft-tissue hypertrophy around the nail plate. Past studies reported that the prevalence can be as high as 2.5-5% [2]. This condition occurs most often in teenagers and young adult males between the ages of 15 and 40 years; with a male to female ratio of 3:1 [3]. Most common causes of ingrown toenails are improper trimming, repetitive or inadvertent trauma, genetic predisposition, hyperhidrosis, poor foot hygiene, wearing tight shoes, obesity, and differential growth of nails and toes during puberty [1,4].