Double little toenails: Report of 4 familial cases.

Double little toenails, or accessory nails of the fifth toe, are a rare and particular deformity distinct from other nail dysplasias. We describe 4 cases of female patients, including a 6-year-old girl, experiencing this bilateral condition after birth. The nail anomaly shows an autosomal-dominant type of transmission that affects only female individuals. The subjects examined were from a family without marriages between blood relatives and without neuroectodermal hereditary diseases. The 4 patients had no bone alterations of the terminal phalanges of the fifth toe or alterations of the joints of the toes or hair. One patient had nail deformity associated with epilepsy; another patient, associated with an infection of an accessory nail.

A unique case of accessory/double nail of middle finger.

INTRODUCTION: A rudimentary, accessory or double nail of the middle finger of hand is extremely rare. Although rudimentary, accessory or double nail of the toes only described four times before, in the literature. Most cases are incidentally detected and only few patients seek help because they have discomfort and pain or cosmetic reasons. Some have a positive family history, but most patients cannot give any information concerning heredity or any previous trauma. PRESENTATION: A 28 year old male presented with an abnormal growth of the nail of middle finger of left hand,which was hard and pointed. It was causing pain and discomfort to patient when touched. This growth was made of keratinized material and inseparable from nail bed, which showed a longitudinal depression corresponding to a slight protuberance of the cuticle of primary nail. DISCUSSION: Being an extremely rare entity, this situation can lead to difficulty in diagnosis, so its symptoms and pattern of occurrence should be thoroughly noted. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for patient's symptomatic relief and cosmetic concern. Nail unit resection procedure can easily be performed under local anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Accessory nail of finger should be removed surgically due to pain and discomfort or cosmetic reasons and histopathology should be done afterwards.

Double Nail of the Little Toe.

A rudimentary accessory or double nail of the little toe is not rare, although only described three times before. Most cases are accidentally detected and only few patients seek help because they have discomfort or pain. Some have a positive family history, but most patients cannot give any information concerning heredity. Clinically, the nail of the little toe is abnormally wide and is split or shows a longitudinal depression corresponding to a slight protuberance of the cuticle. Histopathology shows a complete though short nail. The treatment of choice is segmental excision of the entire accessory nail unit with mobilization of the lateral skin and primary suture.