Modified shave surgery combined with nail window technique for the treatment of longitudinal melanonychia: Evaluation of the method on a series of 67 cases.

BACKGROUND

Nail matrix histopathologic examination is still the criterion standard to diagnose longitudinal melanonychia (LM).

OBJECTIVE

To introduce modified shave surgery combined with the nail window technique for managing LM and evaluate the postoperative outcome of the procedure.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 67 patients with LM who underwent shave surgery combined with the longitudinal-strip nail window technique at our institution from March 2015 to June 2018.

RESULTS

Pathologic diagnosis was accessible in all cases, and 60 cases were assessable for the postoperative outcomes. A total of 45 cases (75.0%) had no postoperative nail dystrophy, and recurrence of nail pigmentation was found in only 8 cases (13.3%).

LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study.

CONCLUSION

Modified shave surgery combined with the nail window technique is the preferable management for LM cases, with limited postoperative nail dystrophy and recurrence of pigmentation.