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Onychomycosis of toenails: Orthopaedic and podiatric considerations
Author(s) -
Murray Stuart C,
Dawber Rodney PR
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.t01-1-00570.x
Subject(s) - medicine , podiatry , nail (fastener) , nail disease , foot (prosody) , dermatology , multidisciplinary approach , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , paronychia , social science , linguistics , philosophy , materials science , sociology , metallurgy
SUMMARY Onychomycosis is common, affecting approximately 5% of the population, and is the most resistant form of superficial fungal infection. Dermatologists often view the nail apparatus in static terms and unfortunately give little consideration to the functional aspects of the digit. In the case of toenails, it is important to consider the toes and foot as a closely integrated functional unit. It is essential that in any case of onychomycosis or onychodystrophy that, as clinicians, we have an understanding of foot dynamics, of structure/function relationships and of the implications of orthopaedic/ podiatric factors when evaluating cases of nail dystrophy. When confronted with cases of possible onychomycosis, we must adopt a systematic and sometimes multidisciplinary approach in the evaluation and management of these patients to improve patient outcomes.