Onychogryphosis

With onychogryphosis (also “claw nail” or “ram’s horn nail”), the nail plate is severely thickened, hardened and grows curved – sometimes like a horn. Usually the nail of the big toe is affected.

Causes

• years of pressure from shoes, injuries to the nail matrix
• circulatory disorders, e.g. with PAD or diabetes
• nails left uncut for a long time, e.g. when the feet can no longer be reached
• nail fungus as an accompanying condition

Why see a podiatrist?

Such a nail can hardly be cut with ordinary nail scissors or clippers – the risk of injury is high. We gently and painlessly thin the nail plate with special instruments and burrs and relieve the nail bed. Regular appointments prevent the nail from overgrowing again. More in our guide Foot care in old age.