Surgical Management of Onychoheterotopia

Onychoheterotopia (ectopic nail) is a rare condition characterized by the development of nail tissue, distinct from the normal nail unit. It is usually acquired following traumatic inoculation of nail matrix; the congenital variety being less common. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is not clear. It affects the dorsal aspect of fingers and toes mostly. Herein, we report a case of a 35-year-old man with post-traumatic onychoheterotopia of left middle finger, who was treated with surgical avulsion of the ectopic nail along with chemical matricectomy of the well-formed ectopic matrix. The patient had a satisfactory cosmetic outcome with normal growth of the nail unit and no recurrence. The report serves to highlight clinical presentation of acquired onychoheterotopia along with its surgical management.