Subungual exostosis: a review of 16 cases focusing on postoperative deformity of the nail.

We reviewed the clinical features of 16 patients who underwent surgery for subungual exostosis, focusing on postoperative deformity of the nail. In 7 patients, the lesion did not destroy the nail bed and was excised with a fish-mouth-type incision. In 9 patients, the lesion destroyed the nail bed and was excised with a direct approach. In 5 of the 9 patients, artificial skin was applied after excision of the tumor because the defect of the nail bed was large. Good postoperative appearance of the nail was obtained by a fish-mouth-type incision when the tumor did not destroy the nail bed, although 2 patients had local recurrence. Onycholysis occurred postoperatively when the tumor destroyed the nail bed and the defect of the nail bed was large after excision of the tumor. Secondary nail bed reconstruction may be indicated in such cases with postoperative deformity of the nail.