Image: Science Direct/International Journal of Surgery Open
Pakistani doctors discovered a rare case of “double nail” when a man came to them with a tiny fingernail growing out on top of his middle finger’s nail.
A paper published in the journal International Journal of Surgery Open provided details on the unusual case and how the doctors were able to remove it from the 28-year-old man’s finger.
Image: Science Direct/International Journal of Surgery Open
X-ray scans revealed nothing unusual about the growth under the skin. The doctors determined it was made of keratin, the substance human fingernails are made of. Apart from being an extra growth, there was nothing else wrong with the nail.
The photo below shows the removed extra nail alongside a syringe.
Image: Science Direct/International Journal of Surgery Open
This kind of secondary growth is rare and has only been described four times in previous literature, and was found on toe nails, according to the paper. The authors also said few patients who discover the double nail seek help. They only do so when experiencing discomfort or for cosmetic reasons. /ra
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