[A distal curved incision approach of lunula for treatment of subungual glomus tumor in nail root].

OBEJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the distal curved incision approach of lunula in treating subungual glomus tumor in nail root.

METHODS

Between March 2017 and October 2019, 16 patients (16 fingers) with subungual glomus tumor in nail root were treated. There were 2 males and 14 females with an average age of 35.3 years (range, 21-67 years). The disease duration ranged from 5 months to 17 years, with a median duration of 15 months. There were 6 cases of thumb, 3 cases of index finger, 2 cases of middle finger, 4 cases of ring finger, and 1 case of little finger. All of them showed typical "triad syndromes", and the cold sensitivity test and Love test were positive before operation. Each patient removed the nail, the tumor was exposed under the nail bed via the distal curved incision approach of lunula. After the tumor was removed completely, the nail bed was reducted in situ without suturing. The self-made nail template was pressurized and fixed on the surface of the nail bed with suture. The conditions of nail bed healing, pain, and growth of nail were observed after operation.

RESULTS

All wounds of the nail bed with laceration healed by first intention. Postoperative pathological results confirmed the diagnosis of subungual glomus tumor in all the patients. All cases were followed up 3-26 months with an average of 15 months. The pain symptom disappeared and no obvious pain occurred during dressing change in all cases; and the cold sensitivity test and Love test were negative. The nails recovered smoothly with satisfactory appearance, and no obvious complications such as longitudinal ridge deformities or recurrences was observed.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of subungual glomus tumor in nail root via the distal curved incision approach is an effective method, which can easily operated, resect the tumor completely, protect the nail bed effectively, and also has a significant effect on preventing postoperative nail deformity.