Guitar pick as a nail prosthesis for progressive nail lichen planus

Abstract

Nail lichen planus is an inflammatory disorder of the nails that may have significant impact on activities of daily living. Early in the disease course, longitudinal ridging and mild nail plate splitting may be aesthetic concerns. However, progressive disease may have much greater consequences (Fig 1).1 Dorsal pterygium, indicating irreversible damage to the nail matrix, manifests as a V-shaped scar extending from the proximal nailfold in place of the nail plate. Eventually, anonychia, or permanent nail loss, may occur.