Acquired Congenial Malalignment of the Great Toenails: A Case Series

Abstract

Congenital malalignment of the great toenail is a dystrophic disorder that is characterized by lateral deviation of the nail plates. It is usually present at birth and diagnosed very early in life. Late onset of this condition, often referred to as, “acquired,” is very uncommon. Mechanical stress and repeated microtraumas to the nail can cause complications that can worsen the appearance of the nail and make the condition more obvious in older individuals, however, there are other triggers for this condition as well, such as drugs that can cause nail changes. Properly diagnosing this condition can prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary treatments and also facilitate the efficient initiation of the correct treatment in patients. Here, we discuss 3 cases of acquired congenital malalignment of the great toenail in patients during their 5th, 8th, and 7th decades of life.