The ‘shark mouth’ flap approach for digital glomus tumours in 24 patients: technique and clinical outcomes

Abstract

This retrospective, single-centre study was carried out on patients with digital subungual glomus tumours. We describe a subperiosteal approach with a ‘shark mouth’ flap containing the nail plate and nail bed as a single unit, providing ideal exposure and easy access to the tumour. It combines the advantages of the transungual and lateral approaches, whether the subungual tumours are located centrally, peripherally or under the germinal matrix. The ‘shark mouth’ flap approach was used by the same surgeon in 24 patients with solitary glomus tumours of the fingers. Clinical outcomes at the early postoperative phase and at the last follow-up were satisfactory. Pain relief and wound healing were quickly achieved. No complications, such as fingertip numbness or nail deformities, were observed, and there was only one recurrence. This approach is reliable, nail-sparing and less time-consuming than other techniques. Level of evidence: IV