Onychogryphosis is the medical term given for thickened and curved nails. This is also known as “ram’s horn”. The nails of the toe get affected growing in curved pattern. The nails are much thicker than normal and the color of the nail gets changed due to collection of debris underneath. It gets wrapped under the toe or around the finger and sometimes on the cuticle of the nail. The nails get curved either in the right or left side severely causing problems.
The major cause of onychogryphosis is negligence to trim the nails regularly allowing it to grow thick and long. Severe trauma to the nails can also cause this problem. In severe cases the nails can damage the median nerves below which in turn worsen the problem. Sometimes the person loses the feeling in their toes and they would not even notice pain or bleeding sensation due to nerve damage.
Symptoms Of Onychogryphosis :
The affected toenail grows thicker resembling a horn. The color of the nail changes from normal color to yellowish brown due to collection or dirt inside. If you find any of your nail growing thicker and turning to an angle (left or right) it is onychogryphosis. The affected nail does not remain flat and you cannot trim it with normal nail clippers. Largely this condition affects toenail rather than fingernail.